In most cases, hearing returns completely after the blockage is removed. Hearing aid users should have their ear canal checked for excess wax every 3 to 6 months. Rarely, trying to remove ear wax may cause an infection in the ear canal. This can also damage the eardrum.
Noise damage. The equipment used during ear wax removal does generate some noise, which some find to be very loud. In minimal cases, this can cause temporary short lived hearing loss, known as a temporary threshold shift. This occasionally happens when tiny muscles contract to protect the ear against noise.
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.
Some people feel dizzy after ear irrigation but this quickly settles. The ear canal may be prone to infection for 4-5 days until more wax is produced to protect it. Some people develop an inflammation in the ear canal following ear irrigation. This causes itch and discomfort but can be treated with ear drops.
But in rare cases, some treatments for earwax removal cause the following complications: Swimmer's ear (otitis external) Earache. Short-term (temporary) hearing loss.
Sometimes exposure to impulse or continuous loud noise causes a temporary hearing loss that disappears 16 to 48 hours later. Recent research suggests, however, that although the loss of hearing seems to disappear, there may be residual long-term damage to your hearing.
Why is my hearing suddenly muffled? Muffled hearing can have several causes, including sinus congestion or infections, clogged ears, earwax build-up and/or changes in altitude or pressure while flying.
after your removal
The normal ear has self-cleaning properties and wax is normal and has protective qualities. Do not use cotton buds or cotton wool – poking will only push the wax deeper into the canal and cause problems. Frequent wax blockage may be caused by a narrow ear canal that easily becomes obstructed.
Eardrops may cause hearing loss
Certain over-the-counter earwax softeners can cause severe inflammation and damage to the inner ear and eardrum if the patient has a perforated eardrum.
Cleaning inside your ear canal, especially with cotton swabs, can push wax deeper into the ear. That can cause a wax buildup (cerumen impaction) that can make it hard for you to hear with the affected ear.
Sometimes devices or suction are used to remove the wax. 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.
Should I remove earwax? Naturally, your body cleans your ears for you so no routine maintenance is required. However, if your body produces too much earwax, you may experience problems with your hearing. If this happens, it's important to get it checked out right away to prevent further issues to your ear health.
During Microsuction, there is some noise generated by the equipment. Some people find this noise to be very loud. In some cases, this can lead to hearing loss, which may be temporary or permanent. It may also cause tinnitus or worsen existing tinnitus.
What happens if you put too much ear drops in? In most cases, the drops will just run out of your ear, so it's not cause for concern. With some drugs, like the antibiotic Ciloxan (ciprofloxacin), you should rinse the ear with water if you use too much.
An ear blockage is often caused by a build-up of ear wax (cerumen) in the ear canal. While ear wax is a naturally occurring substance, sometimes it can harden making it difficult to remove from the ear. A safe way to unblock your ears from excess ear wax build-up is to use ear drops, such as WAXSOL.
It is very important to make sure the drops reach all the way down to the eardrum. Lie on your side (or tilt) for 5 minutes then drain the drops out on a tissue for another 5 minutes to allow the entire canal to be coated. Wipe away excess and repeat with second ear if needed.
Clean your ears with extra care. Don't clean your ears with anything smaller than a washcloth on your finger. Don't use Q-tips®, bobby pins or sharp pointed objects to clean your ears. These objects may injure the ear canal or eardrum.
Clogged ears from a mild ear infection usually last one or two weeks. If the problems are in the inner ear, this could last longer.
If your ears are plugged, try swallowing, yawning or chewing sugar-free gum to open your eustachian tubes. If this doesn't work, take a deep breath and try to blow out of your nose gently while pinching your nostrils closed and keeping your mouth shut. If you hear a popping noise, you know you have succeeded.
Sometimes people experience hearing loss as a plugged-up feeling, so some tests may be necessary to sort that issue out. Doctors also ask patients with clogged ears about dizziness, pain, ringing in the ears, or fluid discharge. The answers help steer testing and other diagnostic detective work.
When people experience a blockage of their ears through excessive or impacted ear wax their immediate perception could be that they have gone suddenly deaf. Fortunately, very few people ever lose their hearing completely and certainly never as a result of a build-up of ear wax.
Temporary hearing loss occurs with an ear infection, excessive ear wax, or exposure to loud noise. However, if hearing is lost and cannot be regained, it is considered permanent hearing loss. Most people are not completely deaf but have lost a level of hearing.
Listening to loud noise for a long time can overwork hair cells in the ear, which can cause these cells to die. The hearing loss progresses as long as the exposure continues. Harmful effects might continue even after noise exposure has stopped. Damage to the inner ear or auditory neural system is generally permanent.
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.
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.