Wax Removal For Adults

What causes ear wax to build up?
Wax is always moving in our ears, but should move out naturally with a natural ‘conveyor belt’ of skin and wax migration from the ear drum to the outer ear and pinna. However, here are some of the more reasons that this system may no longer be suitable, and lead to a wax build-up and blockage of the ear canal:

  • Age-related. At around 65 years of age – the wax in your ears starts to change consistency (it is dryer and contains more skin) – therefore it becomes more difficult to move down the ear canal and starts to back up.

  • Regular exposure to dust or noise can lead to excessive wax production and increase the need for its removal.

  • Swimming. When people swim regularly the wax is often mixed with water, causing the wax to expand and get stuck in the ear.

  • Putting anything in the ear, including cotton buds, hearing aids, headphones and earplugs. Unfortunately, there is no longer a mechanism for the wax to extrude from the ear, as it is blocked by a foreign body in the ear canal. In addition, wax can be pushed down and compacted further into the ear – making it difficult to come out again.

When you have ear wax removal at Tracy James Hearing the audiologist will choose the most appropriate method for you. To ascertain this, we will obtain a detailed history and carry out an examination of the ear. For all procedures we use binocular magnification of the outer ear.

Manual Methods
Manual methods can be used with an instrument called a jobson horne (which is a bit like a miniature spoon or loop). It involves placing the jobsorn horne into the ear and scooping or lifting the wax out by hand. This is the safest method of wax removal as it does not require any water or pressure change in the ear canal.  For this reason, it can be particularly good for children or adults that have sensitive ears, tinnitus or who have had previous surgery.

Microsuction
Microsuction is required when the wax is too far down the ear canal to remove manually. A gentle suction is used to move the wax out. Microsuction is sometimes not possible when the ear has narrow sections, or dips and valleys or protusions into the canal. It is sometimes not possible when the wax is too sticky or spread out against the ear canal wall. Microsuction is not suitable for people who have tinnitus that is aggravated by noise.

Irrigation
Irrigation can be used when microsuction is not possible, or if preferred. A gentle flow of water (at body temperature) is applied to the ear canal and flushes the water out. Irrigation is not suitable for those with perforated eardrums or for those who have had previous surgery on the ears.

How to prepare for the appointment
Most of the time, we can remove the wax in one appointment. However, if the ear has not been treated with oil or the wax is compacted or particularly hard in consistency – then it may take 2 or 3 appointments to remove all the wax. Therefore, we do advise pre-treatment of wax at home prior to your appointment.

It is recommended that the wax is softened prior to appointments using olive oil drops or spray, twice a day in each affected ear at least 3 days prior to the appointment. We do not recommend the use of Otex, as this can make the wax sticky and spread around the ear canal area (and therefore does not come out so easily). It is best to lie down while applying the olive oil drops or spray and to stay in position for 5 minutes – to allow the oil to sink into the wax all the way down the ear canal.

For more information on the best and worst ways of ear cleaning and preparing for your wax removal appointment, check out this article by ENT surgeon Gabriel Weston Whats the best way to clean out my ears

Please note: We offer wax removal for children of all ages. However, if your child is under the age of 9 years, we can only offer ear wax removal with a referral from a GP or ear specialist - emailed to admin@tjaudiology.com or posted to Tracy James Hearing at 14 Montgomery Road, Newbury, RG14 6HU.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The signs and symptoms of ear wax include: blocked sensation, hearing loss, mild or dull pain, squelching noises or popping, temporary tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears). You could ask your GP or nurse to look and confirm, or Tracy James hearing does offer ear examination appointments if you would like us to check first.

  • There is no evidence to suggest that having ear wax removed promotes its production. If someone starts to need having wax removed more frequently, it is likely that is due to an internal change (e.g. change in hormone levels, consistency of the wax due to age, use of headphones or noise exposure, or recent ear infection).

  • All procedures come with risks, but the risks for injury due to ear wax removal are small – particularly with the expertise and experience of the specialists at Tracy James Hearing. Tracy and Louise have carried out ear wax removal for over 10 years and have been looking in ears for over 20 years. You can read the risks here.

  • If you do not have ear wax generally – do not do anything at all.

    If you have started to build up wax more regularly, try the following (where appropriate to you):

    • Use swim plugs if you are a regular swimmer

    • Use over the ear headphones rather than in the ear

    • If you wear hearing aids, ask your audiologist if a different style can be considered. For example, you can wear hearing aids with a shallower protrusion into the ear canal, if this suits your hearing loss. This is often possible with a custom-made design on the earpiece or hearing aid.

    • Reduce your exposure to noise and dust using noise protection or noise-limiting technology.

    • Use olive oil occasionally to keep the wax moist and prevent it from hardening up (ask your audiologist for advice on the frequency of olive oil use).