Ear Wax Removal

Ear wax plays a protective role in your ears, keeping out harmful particles. But sometimes, the wax builds up enough to block your ear canal or cause an infection. When this happens, avoid any method that interferes with the natural functionality of ear wax while you clean your ears. For best results, call the ears, nose and throat (ENT) experts at the Century Medical & Dental Center in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Harlem. Don’t jeopardize your hearing during ear wax removal.

What is Ear Wax and Why Does It Build Up?

Ear wax or cerumen is a naturally occurring substance produced by glands in your ear canal. It protects your ears by trapping dust particles, debris and harmful microorganisms from reaching your eardrums. Additionally, ear wax acts as an antibacterial lubricant that maintains your ear health and prevents dryness and irritation.
Excessive ear wax buildup is the result of overproduction, improper cleaning or anatomical factors like narrow ear canals. Frequent use of earbuds, hearing aids or cotton swabs may push ear wax deep into your ear canal, causing blockages.

If you start experiencing muffled hearing or dull aching ear pain, visit the Century Medical & Dental Center in Manhattan, Harlem or Brooklyn. Getting an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor to remove excess ear wax is the safest way to prevent damage to your inner ear. It also reduces your chances of getting ear infections.

Is Hearing Loss Possible Due to Ear Wax Buildup?

While ear wax acts as a natural defense mechanism, excessive buildup can cause temporary hearing loss. The waxy barrier obstructs the ear canal, making it difficult for sound waves to reach your eardrum. If you suddenly can’t hear what people are saying to you, especially in noisy environments, you may be tempted to reach for a cotton swab. But this action may have an adverse effect, since you can push the wax even deeper, which then requires more invasive ear wax removal treatment.

At the Century Medical & Dental Center, an ENT specialist, also called an otolaryngologist, first conducts a hearing test to assess the severity of your earwax buildup. Your doctor then selects the most appropriate removal method to gently clear the wax while preserving the structural integrity inside your ears. In most cases, hearing returns to normal after the procedure.

Hearing loss, however, is just one of the signs that you have excessive ear wax.

Find an ENT doctor near me if you experience symptoms that include:

• Muffled or reduced hearing, especially while wearing ear buds or hearing aids
• A sense of congestion or clogged ears
• A buzzing or ringing in the ears, called tinnitus
• Itchiness in your ear canal
• Ear pain or discomfort
• Sudden coughing may occur due to the ear wax stimulating your vagus nerve
• A bad odor from your ear or ear wax
• A discharge of fluid from your ear
• Vertigo, as your ears help you with your balance

Who’s at Risk of Getting an Ear Wax Buildup?

Ear wax is your body’s normal response to external threats. In most cases, the ear wax is naturally pushed out of your ear with normal jaw movements. Each time you chew or talk, tiny vibrations are created that shift the ear wax toward the outside of your inner ear.

Accumulation of ear wax buildup happens due to certain factors, such as:

• Age. The older you get, the more likely that the wax produced by your glands becomes drier and harder, making it more difficult to push out naturally. In children, on the other hand, the buildup of ear wax is a common phenomenon since many kids overproduce wax, leading to blockages. Also, children have a tendency to stick their fingers into their ears, pushing the wax deeper.
• Ear structure. You may have narrow or not fully formed ear canals, which makes it harder for the wax to be pushed out.
• Use of earphones and hearing aids. Continuous use of earphones or hearing aids blocks the natural movement of ear wax. You may also experience feedback noise or a reduction in sound from a buildup.
• Swimming. An ear wax buildup traps moisture, making it an ideal environment for bacterial growth. Swimmers, in particular, are at risk.
• Genetics. Some people naturally produce wax that’s harder, making it easier for ear wax buildup to form, impacting normal ear functionality.
• Excessive ear hair. Another genetic trait, too much hair in your ear prevents the ear wax from falling out or getting washed away while you bathe. Since new wax continues to be formed, it can quickly lead to a wax buildup.

Additionally, certain skin conditions may affect the production of ear wax. Eczema and psoriasis cause the skin in your ear canal to become dry, itchy, irritated and inflamed. Your New York City ENT specialist can give you tips for inner ear hygiene while keeping your skin condition in check.

How Does a NYC ENT Doctor Clean My Ears?

Your visit to an otolaryngologist starts with an ear examination to determine how much and how far inside the wax buildup has become. If needed, your ENT doctor may use an otoscope, a tiny lighted instrument inserted into your ear to get a clearer view of the blockage. As there are several clinical methods to safely remove the ear wax, the examination helps your doctor make important treatment decisions.

Depending on the severity of your blockage, your Manhattan or Brooklyn ENT specialist uses a removal technique, such as:

• Microsuction. Using a suction device, your doctor gently removes the ear wax from your ear.
• Ear irrigation. If your ear wax isn’t hard, your otolaryngologist uses warm water to gently flush the wax out of your ear canal.
• Bulb syringe. Your ENT specialist uses a specialized syringe as part of the irrigation process.
• Ear drops. If your ear wax has hardened, you may be given specialized ear drops to soften the wax before it’s removed.

All of these procedures are quick and performed in the ENT medical office. Typically, you may feel a gentle pulling or flushing sensation during a procedure, depending on the technique used. Within minutes, your discomfort subsides, leaving you with clean ears and proper hearing.

What Are the Risks of At-Home Ear Wax Removal?

Removing wax from your ears may seem easy to do at home. Yet without proper guidelines from an ENT specialist, even recommended methods pose a risk. Using objects like hair pins to remove wax may perforate your ear drum, leaving you with permanent hearing loss. You’re also introducing the risk of needless pain and infection.

Improper use of hydrogen peroxide or over-the-counter ear drops may cause other issues. Ear candling, another unsafe method for clearing ear wax, poses the risks of burns, waxy residue in your ear canal and potential eardrum damage. For expert guidance on ear hygiene and safe at-home cleaning methods, contact an ENT doctor at Century Medical & Dental Center today.