Earwax removal by a health care provider When too much wax builds up in the ear, it can be removed by a health care provider using a small, curved tool called a curet. If earwax buildup continues, you may need to visit your health care provider once or twice a year for regular cleaning.
Your GP or practice nurse will look inside your ears to check if they're blocked and might carry out some simple hearing tests. They may suggest using eardrops for a bit longer, or they may carry out a minor procedure called ear irrigation (previously syringing) to clean out your ear canal.
Ear syringing is a very common practice among general practitioners (GPs). It is used by many as the treatment of choice for cerumen (ear wax), and is usually effective and safe.
The ear cleaning process
Once the pre-checks have been done, the audiologist can get to work on the professional ear cleaning and try and flush out the buildup of earwax. This is done by using a syringe with water, or a water and saline solution and this is pumped into your ear.
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.
Experts recommend having your ears professionally cleaned if you're experiencing any pain, itching or hearing loss. Ear cleaning, however, is a simple procedure that is pain-free, although may feel uncomfortable at first.
Why have GP surgeries stopped providing this service? A few people would say that ear syringing can be dangerous and potentially damage the ear canal if it is not undertaken correctly. However, the main reason it was taken away from GP surgeries is due to the fact it was no longer classified as an essential service.
Earwax removal is the most common otolaryngologic (ear and throat) procedure performed by primary care physicians (PCPs) in the United States. Your physician knows how to soften and safely remove earwax using special instruments such as a wax spoon, suction device or ear forceps — a long thin tool used to grab earwax.
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.
Signs and symptoms of earwax blockage may include: Earache. Feeling of fullness in the ear. Ringing or noises in the ear (tinnitus)
The procedure can take anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour, depending on the buildup and your comfort level. If you have a lot of earwax, the doctor may take longer to remove it.
This can happen for brief periods during air travel, but also due to allergies, sinus or ear infections, or other respiratory viruses (including COVID-19). Sudden onset of muffled hearing in one ear may signal an urgent problem requiring prompt treatment to prevent or reduce possible hearing loss.
A clean ear canal can make a world of difference. One study found that 35 percent of hospitalized patients over age 65 had impacted earwax and 75 percent of those had improved hearing after it was removed. Some experts estimate that removing an earwax plug can improve hearing by 10 decibels.
The irrigation method uses a syringe to gently pump a solution of 50% hydrogen peroxide and 50% water into the ear. This softens the hardened earwax and flushes it out of your ear canal. Once the cleaning process is complete, you may start to feel slight discomfort and sensitivity in your ears, which is normal.
If left untreated, excessive earwax may cause earwax impaction symptoms to worsen. These symptoms might include hearing loss, ear irritation, tinnitus and other issues. A buildup of earwax might also make it difficult to see into your ear, which may result in potential issues going undiagnosed.
Instead, soak a cotton ball and drip a few drops of plain water, a simple saline solution, or hydrogen peroxide into the ear with your head tilted so the opening of the ear is pointing up. Keep it in that position for a minute to allow gravity to pull the fluid down through the wax.
In some cases, a hardened lump of wax can form in the canal, which can make it difficult to hear in that ear or even trap bacteria and cause an infection. If this happens, don't stick anything inside the ear to try to remove the wax yourself. Doing so could cause permanent hearing damage.
However, no procedure is risk-free, but ear microsuction offers several advantages over syringing, including: Ear microsuction may be used even in the presence of ear drum perforation. Microsuction is the only technique that's safe to use for ear wax removal in the event of an external or middle ear infection.
To do this, just gently massage the outside of the ear using circular movements. That way, the impaction will soften, which can help the earwax drain more easily. Once you've finished making these circular movements, pull your ear slightly backwards, from the lobe to the top of the auricle.
The safest and easiest way to get rid of excess or stubborn earwax is to see a professional. Specsavers stores offer microsuction earwax removal services by our trained and accredited Hearcare Professionals. We charge £55 for one or both ears.
You may notice a few changes after your ear cleaning, including temporary tinnitus caused by the suction-related sounds or vertigo following irrigation, Sarow says. But the best side effect you may experience is a positive one. “Many people notice that they can hear more clearly after cerumen removal,” Sarow says.
The method that they use involves using a high-powered lighted curette, a loop, or a microscope. Your audiologist will use these specialized tools to remove the cerumen without pain. This method is also the safest and most effective in removing wax only by a trained professional.
“In that sense, it's like scratching an itch.” It also does just feel really, really good. That could be because the ear—thought to be an erogenous zone—has a complex system of nerves and nerve endings.