Struggling with hearing loss, discomfort or even pain in your ear could be the telltale signs of build up ear wax. In most cases, ear wax isn’t considered to be harmful but for some people it can pose itself as a real problem for their quality of life.
It’s estimated that approximately 2.3 million people in the UK have problems with ear wax annually, although this number is probably higher due to the number of people who ignore the problems. Thankfully, there are specialised ear wax removal treatments that can be performed.
The removal of ear wax is actually a fairly simple procedure and it’s able to improve your ability to hear, as well as relieving any pain and discomfort at the same time. The most commonly used method of ear wax removal used is ear wax microsuction, it’s gentle and pain free using a low pressure suction device – as the safest and cleanest method it can take as little as 5 minutes per ear.
It may be that at your appointment you are told that you need to use Earol® oil to soften the wax to aid removal, if this is the case, your next appointment is free of charge. Earol® is available to purchase within the clinic.
In addition to ear wax microsuction, both irrigation and manual removal of ear wax are also available if preferred.
If your ears are producing a normal amount of ear wax then it’s highly likely that nothing at all will happen if it isn’t removed. In most cases, you shouldn’t really need to remove ear wax (outside of your general hygiene routine) as it is a natural barrier for the ear canal, stopping any rogue dust and bacteria from making their way in and preventing any injuries.
If you do have an excess buildup of ear wax though, not removing it can lead to further problems such as discomfort and hearing loss, or it can become impacted. Impacted ear wax is a fairly common thing, especially in older adults, and can have a number of different causes – ranging from eczema to wearing hearing aids.
If you are struggling with impacted or built up ear wax, the best thing you can do is seek professional advice on the best way to remove it.
Keeping your ears clean at home is something that should be a part of a good hygiene routine. Simply washing regularly should be enough to keep your ears nice and clean, although if you want to go one step further you can use a damp cloth to clean the outside of your ears gently between washes.
There are also some at home remedies that you can try to remove ear wax, but this is only advised of you aren’t experiencing any urgent symptoms or any other issues like pain or a change to your hearing ability.
You should also avoid inserting any objects into your ear canal as this can push the wax further into the ear and may result in permanent damage to your ear.
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