Hearing loss can occur due to various reasons; the most common ones would be due to aging, working in loud noises, eardrum rupture, and many more. But one of the overlooked reasons that we often miss is due to ear wax build-up. It can clog your ear which can lead to hearing loss along with discomfort. Though ear wax or cerumen is something that we need to protect our inner ears from dust, small insects, or things that can hurt our ears, it also requires a balanced amount.
Too much wax can lead to ear wax blockage that can eventually cause hearing loss in some cases. For this reason, regular ear wax removal is necessary to maintain the health of your ear. Many hearing clinics provide professional earwax removal to help to get earwax removed from your ears.
(Information source: https://www.theeardepot.com/our-services/earwax-removal/ )
What Is an Earwax Build-Up?
What we commonly refer to as earwax, is a waxy oil called cerumen which is produced in the ear canal. It mainly provides the necessary protection from dust, microorganisms, and foreign particles and also protects the ear canal skin from the irritation that can happen due to water. It is when your gland makes more wax than necessary, it gets hard and can create a blockage in your ear that may lead to temporary hearing loss and may require professional help to get rid of it.
You can experience some symptoms of sudden or partial hearing loss, tinnitus, earache, or a feeling of fullness or discomfort in your ear due to earwax blockage. If left for a longer period, this can even lead to infections, severe pain, drainage from the ear, fever, and other symptoms.
There are some factors that may affect the amount of earwax in your ear. These can be due to any previous ear surgery or due to trauma, recurring ear infections and wearing deep earplugs, or using hearing aids.
Earwax Removal Methods to Try:
Ear wax has both antifungal and anti-bacterial properties but an excessive amount of earwax can lead to many problems related to hearing. You can find an earwax removal health professional in your local hearing clinic and opt for an earwax removal consultation to check the problem in detail. Though there are some earwax removal services available now, if you want to remove them by yourself if you have a small amount of wax present in your ear, here are some of the ways you can do it easily.
Over-The-Counter Ear Cleaning Drops
This method works when you have a small amount of wax present. For this method, you need hydrogen peroxide or any other type of peroxide to clean your ear. Peroxide works wonders in breaking up the ear wax. To use this method, you need to lie down sideways and make sure the ear you’re cleaning is facing up. Then add the drops of peroxide as directed. Let it sit for about five minutes so that the liquid can soak and soften it up. After a while grab a tissue to clean the wax that may come out with the liquid due to the peroxide.
In any case, if this method doesn’t work, you might be needing flushing the ears with a bulb syringe.
Using Mineral Or Olive Oil
Apart from the method mentioned above, you can also use mineral oil or olive oil to get ear wax more easily before cleaning them.
Earwax Removal Mistakes To Avoid:
There are two common mistakes when it comes to removing ear wax from your ear including using cotton swabs and ear wax removal candles. Most people use cotton swabs to remove the ear wax, but it usually pushes the wax deeper which can eventually rupture the eardrum and also increases the chance of infection.
Another common mistake we make is using ear wax candles that are strictly not recommended as they don’t really work and can harm your ear.
If you’re unable to remove the earwax and feel like it needs professional help you can visit your local earwax removal clinic. There are plenty of clinics providing earwax removal in Peterborough from professionals to help you get a better hearing experience.
