Audiologists have the professional tools for the job In many cases, they'll use a vacuum to suck large globs of earwax out of your ear while also loosening any bits of earwax stuck to the sides of your ear. This provides a complete clean that is hygienic, performed by a professional, safe and ultimately fast.
ENTs (ear, nose, and throat specialists) and audiologists are both qualified to remove ear wax in their office.
Audiologists are professionals who can help with clogged ears. If you have tried these simple remedies and continue to experience a clogged ear and hearing loss in that ear, it's time to make an appointment with an audiologist to diagnose the culprit.
Your audiologist will use a curette or small scoop to slowly remove earwax from your ears with the help of a special light and magnifying glass. They will be able to see inside your ears, making it possible to avoid causing damage by delving too deep or being rough with sensitive parts of your inner ear.
Ear infections
An audiologist will be able to diagnose and treat an ear infection and minimize any potential for damage to your inner ear. They can recommend over-the-counter medication where necessary, as well as provide follow-up care to ensure that the infection has passed and your hearing is back to normal.
An ENT doctor will be able to carry out more comprehensive tests than an audiologist and will also be able to prescribe pharmaceutical treatments or perform surgery if your hearing loss is caused by calcified bones or benign tumors.
Although audiologists and ENT doctors often deal with similar problems, an ENT doctor deals with more advanced medical issues while an audiologist is an expert in diagnosing hearing loss and using technological solutions to help you manage it and live with it.
You can prevent infection, improve your hearing and generally feel healthier with a professional ear cleaning. They can also assess your overall ear health and recommend any tips or maintenance practices to help you avoid impactions in the future.
For the most part, insurance companies and Medicare do not cover ear wax removal or professional ear cleanings unless it is deemed medically necessary.
If earwax is clogging the ear canal, this can make it more difficult to hear. You might find that if you have your ears professionally cleaned, your hearing suddenly improves.
If earwax buildup continues, you may need to visit your health care provider once or twice a year for regular cleaning. Your health care provider may also recommend that you use earwax-softening agents such as saline, mineral oil or olive oil. This helps loosen the wax so that it can leave the ear more easily.
When the ears are clogged, it can cause pain and discomfort and affect hearing and balance. Call your ENT doctor if you experience severe symptoms with clogged ears, or if symptoms persist for more than two weeks.
This can be caused by a buildup of fluids, loud sounds, foreign objects in the ear, severe head trauma, severe changes in air pressure, and ear infections (see next section).
Frequent washing, however, can do more harm than good because it strips the ear of this delicate, protective lining, leaving the way open for bacteria to get in and multiply. Experts, recommend that you only clean your ears every two to four weeks.
It is important to stay still during the procedure to prevent damage to the ear canal. But removing earwax generally doesn't hurt. You won't need anesthesia or pain medicine when the provider removes the earwax.
Earwax removal is most safely done by an ear specialist or doctor. Excessive earwax can actually damage your delicate eardrum or ear canal easily.
For some people, a once-a-year visit to the ear care clinic is often sufficient but for many, having ear wax removed every six months may be recommended. If your ears are naturally prone to produce excessive wax then a quarterly appointment is likely to be needed.
The eustachian tube, which is a tiny tube in your ear, is the cause of these noises. The crackling occurs when these mucus-lined passageways open, allowing air and fluid to circulate and equalize the pressure in your ears.
After the Procedure
Once the cleaning process is complete, you may start to feel slight discomfort and sensitivity in your ears, which is normal. Your doctor may give you some ointment and topical solutions that can help with any pain.
If you are referred to an audiologist (a hearing healthcare professional), they will assess your hearing. A typical audiology assessment lasts between 30 minutes and one hour. The appointment will include: a discussion about your work and lifestyle, to find out which noises you hear a lot.
Tinnitus (pronounced tin-NY-tus or TIN-u-tus) is not a disease. It is a symptom that something is wrong in the auditory system, which includes the ear, the auditory nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain, and the parts of the brain that process sound.
Audiologists specialize in hearing and balance disorders. While tinnitus doesn't affect your balance, it is most commonly a symptom of hearing loss. Audiologists help people hear the sounds around them and not hear the sounds that aren't there. They are the first choice for treatment of tinnitus.
We do not accept self-referrals into the audiology service. All new patients must be referred by their GP. Existing hearing aid users who require reassessment can collect a letter from audiology, for their GP to authorise and return, however the GP must book the appointment via NHS e-Referrals.
Is an audiologist a doctor? Technically, yes, an audiologist with an Au. D. is a Doctor of Audiology. However, these doctoral degrees only became mandatory in the United States in 2007, so many experienced older audiologists may have instead completed Masters-level audiology programs.