Although you may resort to removing earwax from your ear canal with a variety of home-based tools, such as cotton swabs, or even your finger, you should stop right away. This can cause irreversible damage in the form of hearing loss, with earwax impaction also a very real possibility. Earwax protects your ear canal, which is an extremely sensitive organ. When wax builds up, though, you may not like the feeling or the look of it. But instead of sticking something in your ear to get it out, make an appointment to see a professional. Your doctor can remove it the right way. Here we show you three ways you could be harming your ears.
Candle
If you’ve never heard of this procedure, be aware that it’s quite a harmful way to attempt earwax removal on your own. These are basically hollow tapered wax-covered candles or tubes that you’re supposed to light on fire thanks to the very long wick. The purpose is to use heat from the flame to create a vacuum in the ear, thus drawing out the wax. The problem is, these products can’t always create the required vacuum seal with ineffective results and even disastrous consequences in the form of burns.
Ear Drops
Have you seen these products at the drug store and wonder if they work? Often times, they don’t due to the fact that each individual is different in terms of their earwax composition and shape of their ear canal. When you place the drops into your ear and let it sit for awhile, you’re supposed to tilt your head and feel the wax come flowing out. However, these procedures are often ineffective, so it’s best to save your cash on a product that may or may not work well.
Cotton Swabs
Your daily routine may consist of taking a shower, then swabbing out your ears with cotton tips. It may make you feel better and cleaner to do so, but you’re actually pushing a lot of that dirt and earwax into the ear canal. This could result in impaction and temporary hearing loss, so it’s best if you don’t do this. You may be getting some superficial wax out but the rest is getting caught in the canal, posing problems and even pain. Instead of fixing any of these circumstances yourself, go to see an audiologist for professional treatment.
Earwax Impaction Calls for a Professional
The safest way to thoroughly and safely get out all the wax from you ears is to schedule an appointment with an audiologist. This type of doctor has access to all the right tools to enable a safe method of extraction. You’ll even be better able to hear again. An exam of your eardrum will reveal if any lasting damage has been done by earwax. Use this opportunity to schedule some future appointments so you know you’ll be able to get to the doctor easily again for regular ear cleaning.