Ear cleaning can be a controversial topic. While many people clean their ears at home, cotton swabs have a warning on them that they should not be put inside your ear canal. Putting anything in your ear can lead to damage or ear canal blockages. For at home ear cleaning, it is recommended to only clean the outside of your ear canal. For a deep ear cleaning if you are suffering from muffled noises, pressure or pain, you should schedule an appointment with an audiologist.

Symptoms of Impaction

Earwax, also known as cerumen, is a self-cleaning substance produced by your body. Dirt, germs, and other detritus are collected. Normally, wax comes out of the ears naturally as a result of eating and other jaw motions.

Many folks do not require ear cleaning. However, wax can accumulate and impair your hearing. Impaction occurs when earwax reaches this level. Symptoms of impaction can include:

• aching

• pressure or fullness

• ringing

• itching

• impaired hearing

• odors

• dizziness

Hearing aids, earplugs or even in-ear headphones can all cause excess wax to develop as well as pushing it further into your ear canal, so making sure to take care of your ear health is extremely important.

How Audiologists Deep Clean Ears

Deep cleaning of your ears should only be done by an experienced audiologist or doctor. This is the safest way to ensure that there will be no damage to your ear canal or ear drum while removing any built up wax. There are different tools that could be used depending on the severity.

Cerumen Spoon

A cerumen spoon is a small ear pick, or ear scoop that is used to safely clean the ear canal. It should only be used by a professional as it can easily cause damage to your ear canal or ear drum if you attempt to use one on yourself and move it at the wrong angle or too deeply. Ear spoons are specifically made to fit into your ear and are made of steel.

Forceps

Forceps are often used in conjunction with a suction device to remove more built up ear wax, or as a secondary tool after using a spoon. Wax can often come out in a clump but also can come as a ribbon which requires more delicate maneuvers to remove everything from the canal, and this is where forceps come in handy.

Suction Device

Micro suction is another common way to remove ear wax and is one of the most comfortable methods. This way does not require the earwax to be softened and uses a gentle suction to dislodge and remove the wax. A small microscope will be used to be able to see what is happening while the tube is gently fitted. It is important to be honest with your doctor about any prior ear surgeries and your ear health before having a micro suction earwax removal.

Professional Irrigation

One of the most commonly seen processes for removing ear wax is by using ear irrigation. This process involves inserting liquid into your ear to flush out earwax. Just like with micro suction, it is important to be up front about any prior ear surgeries as irrigation is not recommended for those who have had ear surgery. Sometimes more than one irrigation process may be needed to remove all blockages.

Before deciding on which type of ear cleaning you will receive, Dr. Srour will examine your ears and take note of your ear history. Certain symptoms or buildup may require different types of ear cleaning processes.

Why Keep Your Ears Clean?

Ears can be extremely sensitive to different types of cleaning methods, but the important part of keeping clean ears is to improve you hearing. By keeping your ears clean, you can help prevent infections and help avoid unnecessary hearing loss as well as allowing your doctor to monitor for any possible permanent hearing loss.

Dr. Srour approaches ear cleanings gently, unlike some processes that you may have received at a general practitioners office. She works to make it as comfortable as possible while ensuring all built up ear wax is removed, and no matter the type of ear cleaning, it can be done in the comfort of your own home with a mobile visit. Contact Dr. Srour to learn more about your hearing needs and to schedule an ear cleaning today.