It’s completely understandable to want to clear your ears when they feel blocked, and it can be tempting to reach for cotton buds or other items. We see this often! However, we gently advise against inserting anything into your ear canal, especially when it feels completely blocked. Doing so can sometimes push the earwax further in, making it more compacted and potentially uncomfortable against your eardrum. There’s also a small risk of irritating the delicate eardrum.
Use Olive oil drops. Olive oil (or other vegetable oil) moves down your ear canal between the ear wax and your skin. This makes it easier and more comfortable to remove. Olive oil and almond oil are the best you have a choice. Olive oil has some antibacterial properties and almond oil is a finer oil.
* If you know or suspect you have a hole in your ear drum (perforation), do not put oil or drops in your ear.
These drops can melt the wax, which can move down onto your eardrum. This will increase the blocked sensation and make ear wax removal more difficult. These drops are are funded and are frequently prescribed by GP’s. In the past, wax removal by water irrigation was common. The wax melting onto the ear drum was probably not such a problem.
When using the suction method for earwax removal, olive oil is the recommended option. This is because when wax has been in the ear for a while, it becomes stuck to the skin of the ear canal. The purpose of using the oil is to loosen the wax from the ear canal, which makes removal more uncomfortable.
If you have used ear buds or products such as Waxol or Cerumol before reading this information, do not worry. In most cases, we will still be able to fully clear your ears at the first appointment. However, sometimes we will need a follow-up appointment if the wax is too difficult or uncomfortable to remove. The cost for the follow-up appointment is $50.
Impacted wax can occur when the wax in your ears has been there for a long time. It may also occur when wax is pushed down onto your eardrum with a cotton bud or other item. The wax could have been moist when it originally moved deep into your ear canal. Over time, it dries out and sticks to the ear canal wall or ear drum. In some cases, despite careful effort, earwax can not be completely removed during the first appointment.
We will remove as much wax as possible from the ear canal at the first appointment. We will then ask you to use olive oil morning and night for a few days (instructions above). The olive oil will gently make its way between the wax and your skin. In most cases, we can remove the rest of the wax when you return for your second appointment. The cost of a follow-up appointment is $50.
A wax blockage can cause a hearing loss because the wax may function like an earplug, preventing sound from passing through the ear canal to the eardrum. In some cases, wax can be pushed down onto the eardrum. This causes a more significant hearing impairment because the eardrum can’t vibrate. In these cases, removing the earwax will help you to hear better instantly.
If there was some wax in your ear, but a gap allowed sound to reach your eardrum and vibrate normally, you might not notice a significant change in your hearing. Alternatively, you may find that you can hear higher-pitched sounds more clearly.We can show you an image of your ear canal and eardrum once we have finished removing the wax.
If you feel that your hearing has not improved as much as anticipated following ear wax removal, we recommend scheduling a full hearing assessment. We can recommend a hearing clinic that is convenient for you.
If we find that your ear canals are clear during your appointment, we will use the time to discuss the reason for your visit and address these concerns. As an experienced Audiologist, Maree will recommend the most appropriate approach to manage your hearing or ear care needs. For example:
