In medical terms, earwax is referred to as “cerumen,” and this naturally occurring substance produced by the body has a number of functions, particularly when present in only trace levels. As it travels from the inner section of the canal towards the exterior, it picks up dirt, hair, dead skin cells, and other foreign objects along the way.
Typically, wax that has accumulated beyond what is necessary will work its way out of the ear canal into the entrance of the ear. Aside from being a self-cleaning agent, earwax may also help prevent the skin of the ear canal from becoming irritated by factors such as dust, water, foreign particles, and bacteria. It has been demonstrated through research that earwax possesses antifungal characteristics; hence, if your ears do not have a sufficient amount of earwax, they are likely to end up feeling itchy and uncomfortable.
In short, there is no need to rid your ears of wax on a daily basis. However, accumulated or impacted earwax is a whole other case. If you have impacted earwax, you need to get professional earwax removal as soon as possible.
The Relationship Between Hearing Loss and Impacted Earwax
Hearing loss can be caused by a variety of factors and ideally, an audiologist will seek to rule out any early hearing issues that could potentially be treated to improve hearing, including excessive earwax and ear infections. If you get your ears professionally cleaned, you may notice a considerable improvement in the quality of your hearing. As soon as you have any reason to suspect that you may be experiencing hearing loss, it is imperative that you schedule an appointment with an audiologist as soon as possible.
How Do You Know If You Have Too Much Ear Wax?
Earwax can appear in a variety of colors, ranging from pale yellow to dark brown. Checking the color of the earwax to determine a blockage or impaction is not a reliable determining factor. Dark-colored earwax doesn’t always mean that there’s an earwax impaction.
Below are some symptoms of earwax buildup:
- Loss of hearing, either complete or partial, that comes on suddenly and is typically only transitory
- Tinnitus characterized by a ringing or buzzing sound
- A sensation of pressure or fullness in the ear
- Pain in the ears
What causes earwax impaction?
An overproduction of wax by your glands can be the cause of excessive wax production. This condition frequently manifests itself in the summer, when you sweat more than usual. Many medical conditions, including hypothyroidism, diabetes, and narrowing of the ear canals, as well as an excessive growth of hair in the canals, might contribute to an increase in wax production.
If you wear hearing aids or use headphones on a regular basis, you also increase your risk of developing wax accumulation in your ear canals. You may not realize that these devices are involuntarily obstructing the ear canals by preventing earwax from exiting the ear canals. However, an accumulation of wax is not the only factor that might cause a blockage.
Inappropriate removal of earwax at home is the most prevalent cause of earwax blockage. This occurs when small, pointed objects like cotton swabs, and hair pins are used to clean the ears in an attempt to get rid of earwax. Doing so may push wax deeper into the canal, so establishing a blockage.
Ear Wax Removal: Irrigation via the Earigator
By utilizing the Earigator, we are able to provide a wax removal service that is not only efficient but also quick and painless for our patients. This is a device that is equipped with a built-in temperature control mechanism, which constantly adjusts the temperature of the water so that it is consistent with the temperature of your body.
By producing fluid that is consistent with the body’s temperature, we can effectively eliminate the caloric effects and uncomfortable sensations of vertigo that are common side effects of most types of ear irrigation.
The precision-level pressure controls of the Earigator allow a speedy and effective clearance of even the most obstinate buildup, while at the same time eliminating any risk to the eardrum. The process is significantly quicker than the conventional methods, requiring only three to five minutes for each ear. The Earigator does not have any recorded negative side effects, including any residual discomfort, in contrast to other traditional earwax removal techniques.
How do we clean ears?
If this is your first time to get your ears cleaned, you may be curious about the cleaning process. Let’s give you a walkthrough of how we perform earwax removal:
- Physical checking of the ears: Through video otoscopy, we take a look at the impacted earwax and ensure that there are no other issues going on in your ears.
- Once we confirm that there are no other issues except for the impacted earwax, we then proceed to perform ear irrigation using the Earigator.
- The ear irrigation procedure is completed after a few minutes and you can enjoy a clean and clear ear canal.
What happens if you don’t remove earwax?
If you do not remove earwax and allow it to stay impacted in your ears, you may notice that the ear that is affected by the blockage feels uncomfortable pressure and your hearing is impaired. Clumps of earwax could make their way down to the eardrum, which would result in excruciatingly painful and persistent ear infections.
Oracle Hearing Center: Professional Ear Wax Removal Services in Lawrenceville, NJ
At Oracle Hearing Center, we take pride in our excellent care and service. We work with the best hearing aid manufacturers in the industry and equip our clinic with the latest hearing care technology to best fit your hearing needs, lifestyle, and budget.
If you need professional earwax removal services, we can help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!