How Your Audiologist Performs Earwax Removal

Earwax might not look like the most appealing substance but it is part of a healthy and clean ear. The function of wax is to protect the delicate skin of your inner ear and catch any bacteria and viral infections before they can take hold. Most of the time, earwax will drain from the ear by itself and should not require any further thought.

However, some people do experience a build-up of earwax that can be uncomfortable and affect hearing. If this is the case, you should never try to remove earwax without first seeing an audiologist. This is because the inner ear is very delicate and may be damaged by over-zealous cleaning attempts.

Most of the time, your audiologist will provide you with a kit you can use at home. If you regularly experience earwax blockages, you may use these kits quite regularly. For some people, earwax removal kits don’t work as well and they may need their audiologist to perform an in-office earwax removal procedure.

Assessing the wax buildup

Before your audiologist does anything, they will look into your ears to see what the problem is. This simple examination doesn’t hurt at all and will determine what your audiologist does next. In most cases, they will be able to remove the wax using a tool called a curette but they may also use a solution to irrigate the ears, breaking up the wax.

As part of the examination, your audiologist will also ask about any discomfort or pain and whether you are prone to this kind of buildup. This is important because it may be that you are causing your own problems by using cotton swabs to remove wax from the inner ear, but actually, you are pushing the wax further in.

Removing the wax

Once your audiologist has assessed the problem, they will decide how best to remove the wax. An audiologist may try a couple of methods to release all the wax safely and without causing any further pain or discomfort.

The first method an audiologist may try is using a curette to scoop the wax out of the inner ear gently. You must never put anything into your ear at home, which is why this method should be used at the audiologist’s office only.

Another method your audiologist may try is irrigating the ear using a syringe. Many audiologists prefer this method because the warm water is safe and can loosen the wax gently. This method does feel strange the first time, but you should quickly notice a difference.

Additional advice

Some people simply produce more earwax than others and, as you get older, you might find that you experience wax impactions more frequently. If this is the case, you should ask your audiologist for tips on keeping your ears clear and clean without using cotton buds or other questionable methods like ear candles.

Keeping your ears clean is not the same as keeping them wax-free and understanding how earwax actually helps your ears is a good start to understanding how to care for your ears properly.