Services

Ear Wax Removal Services

Longmont, Colorado

Longmont Hearing and Tinnitus Center has audiologists providing professional ear wax removal services in Longmont, CO.

Ear wax is a self-cleaning agent that your body naturally produces. It collects dirt, bacteria, and other debris, and for the most part, that it works its way out of your body naturally, through chewing or other jaw motions. Most people don’t ever need to clean their ears, but sometimes wax can build up and affect your hearing. The most important thing to note here is that cleaning with a cotton swab is not recommended, as that can push the wax further into the ear canal.

WHAT IS EAR WAX?

Ear wax is a body secretion that’s actually normal and useful for maintaining ear health. Earwax works as a natural ear cleanser, moving dirt from the inner ear canal outward, gathering dead skin cells and other debris along the way. In fact, according to Harvard Health Publishing, ear wax has antibacterial and antifungal properties.
While most people think that ear wax is unhygienic and needs to be taken out of the ears regularly, doing so may do more harm than good. The ears are not designed to have zero ear wax. In fact, if the ears don’t have enough ear wax, they are most likely to feel itchy and bring discomfort.

However, excessive production of earwax is a whole other story. If you need to see an audiologist in Longmont, CO, please schedule an appointment with us.

HOW IS EAR WAX DEVELOPED?

Ear wax is medically known as cerumen. It starts as a mixture of sweat and fatty secretions from the sebaceous glands. Jaw movement from talking, yawning or chewing helps propel the secretions through the canal and out of the ear.

CAN HEARING AIDS TRIGGER EAR WAX PRODUCTION?

Hearing aids can block the normal migration of earwax out of the ear. When this happens the glands in the ear canal may be stimulated to produce more earwax as a response.

Around 60-70% of the hearing aids sent for repair are damaged by ear wax. The sticky secretion tends to seep into hearing aid vents and receivers, and the acidity degrades the components. Ideally, checking for ear wax buildup should be part of regular maintenance for anyone wearing hearing aids.

ARE OVER-THE-COUNTER EAR DROPS EFFECTIVE?

Seeing a professional for ear wax removal is still the best course of action. For people with mild earwax problems, yes. Water-based earwax removal drops contain ingredients such as sodium bicarbonate, hydrogen peroxide, or acetic acid. Oil-based ear drops are designed to soften and lubricate the ear wax. Sometimes, OTC ear drops may work on their own. However, there are also cases when a few squirts of water using a bulb syringe is needed to penetrate the ear wax. Keep in mind that people with a damaged or perforated eardrum should stay away from using bulb syringes in their ears. If water gets into the middle ear, they are going to be at high risk for infection and complications.

Audiologists tackle ear wax blockage with expertise and using the right tools, such as spoon-like curretes that can fit the narrow space of the ear canal. Plus, audiologists have a better view of your ears, there’s no arguing about that.

Side Effects of Excessive Earwax

As we all know, too much of something is not good. That’s the same with ear wax; too much ear wax can clog up the ear canal which can lead to infections, ear aches, and other related problems. If the earwax gets clogged in a certain way, it can cause a cough by stimulating the vagus nerve branch that is connected to the outer ear. Excess ear wax can also lead to some level of hearing loss.

Ear wax that sits in the ear canal for a long time can get hard and dry, which is more likely to cause a blockage. As people age, the glandular secretions change in consistency, making the mechanism of traveling through the ear canal more tricky.

Earwax Removal - Longmont, Colorado

Take care of yourself, and be gentle with your ears. As part of our hearing care services, Longmont Hearing and Tinnitus Center offers several options for ear wax removal treatments—we’re here to help. If you are experiencing difficulty hearing, or your hearing aid performance is muffled, there’s a good chance that excess ear wax is at fault.

Audiologists at Longmont Hearing and Tinnitus Center can take a look at your ears and see if there’s any blockage or ear wax impaction. We also provide hearing tests in Longmont, CO, and perform professional ear wax removal that will give you the relief you need in no time. When it comes to ear wax removal, it’s best to skip DIY and let the professionals handle it.