Dealing with Earwax the Right Way Is Critical to Healthy Hearing
Does it feel like your ears are blocked or stuffy, or voices seem to be far away or are muffled? If so, then there’s a strong chance that your discomfort is due to an over-accumulation of earwax.
Left untreated, a buildup of earwax can lead to temporary or sudden hearing loss, feelings of fullness in your ear, dizziness, headaches, balance issues, infections, ringing in the ears and/or ear pain.
Our earwax removal expert at Hear at Home’s Delbrook clinic in North Vancouver provides the safest, most effective way to deal with your earwax challenges so you can enjoy better hearing health.
What Does Earwax Removal Cost?
To secure your appointment, a $25 non refundable deposit is required for an in-clinic appointment. If earwax removal is necessary during your visit, it’s priced at $100 for the first ear and $50 for the second ear if necessary. The non-refundable deposit will be credited to the final ear wax removal fee.
What Is Earwax?
What Is Earwax and Why Does it Get Built Up?
Cerumen, a.k.a. earwax, is a sticky, wax-like oil produced by glands in your ears that lubricates and cleans out dirt and debris from your ear canal.
Because of the natural benefits it provides and the potential damage you can cause to your ears by trying to dig out earwax, it’s best to let a hearing care professional deal with your earwax the right way.
Excessive earwax build-up can be the result of narrow ear canals, loss of elasticity and aging, the use of cotton swabs to clean ears, living/working in dusty environments and even hearing aid use itself.
Consequently, those who wear hearing aids need to be diligent about cleaning your hearing aids on a daily basis to prevent damage caused by earwax.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Earwax Buildup
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Aural fullness (stuffiness)
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Earaches
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Headaches
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Muffled hearing
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Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
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Dizziness or vertigo
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Balance issues
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Itchiness or irritation in the ear canal
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Decreased hearing aid performance
How Does It Work?
How Does Earwax Removal Work?
Before earwax removal, your hearing specialist will complete a comprehensive case history and perform a visual inspection of your ear by using a video otoscope. These measures help your hearing specialist view the extent of blockage and determine the safest and most effective method of earwax removal.
The licensed and trained professionals at Hear at Home offer two methods of cerumen removal: irrigation and manual removal.
When Not to Worry
It’s essential to recognize that not all ear discomfort or hearing loss is due to ear wax buildup. Normal amounts of ear wax are healthy and beneficial for your ears. Viral videos on platforms like YOUTUBE or TikTok often sensationalize the process and outcomes of ear wax removal, which might only be necessary or advisable for some.
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Earigator: A Safe, Effective, Advanced Solution for Earwax Removal
Earigator is our first option for attacking built-up and impacted earwax in order to provide greater safety, more effective removal, and the highest level of comfort for our patients.
Imagine the feeling of warm water massaging your ear without the lingering pain that sometimes comes after using traditional methods. Earigator provides safe, effective, targeted earwax removal that takes between three and five minutes.
This advanced earwax removal technique encourages those who wear hearing aids, use earplugs, or frequently struggle with impacted earwax to schedule regular earwax removal appointments because it brings quick relief and provides a pleasant experience.
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Irrigation (spray wash system)
A low-pressure irrigation system is used to remove wax from the ear. Rather than spraying water directly at the eardrum (potentially unsafe), this technique allows for the canal to be safely washed instead. As the water exits the ear canal, so will the cerumen; both will collect in a catch basin. This method of treatment is painless and easy; however, it should only be performed on clients with healthy eardrums.
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Manual removal (use of a curette)
A thin lit, one-time-use tool is used to gently scoop, pull or extract the cerumen from the ear canal. The curette can be angled and is of varying lengths. This method of earwax removal is often recommended when a client does not have healthy eardrums.
Routine
Regular Treatments
Are you prone to excessive wax buildup or have you had cerumen removed in the past? If so, Hear at Home recommends that you have your ears routinely checked and cleaned. A discussion surrounding safe and unsafe at-home treatment plans always follows an earwax removal appointment.
At-Home Earwax Removal Measures
Some safe and effective measures to manage earwax build-up at home include the use of softening agents such as mineral oil and following these steps:
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- Place 2-3 drops of oil in one ear.
- Lie sideways for approximately 5 minutes to allow for the oil to ‘sit and soak.’
- Wipe any excess oil from the outside of your ear with a soft cloth.
- Repeat on your other ear.
- Continue this treatment for 3-4 days.
This process will help soften the wax so that it works its way out of your ears naturally.
Unsafe Earwax Removal Measures
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