Understanding Earwax: When to Seek Help

There are several persistent myths surrounding earwax. For most, earwax is something that is rarely thought about until it becomes a problem. While for many it is something unpleasant, it actually plays a vital part in our hearing health. It protects our ears and is a necessary part of our inner ear health. Some people view earwax as something unhealthy that should be removed, but it is important to know how to properly manage earwax and seek professional help if problems persist.

What Is Earwax?

The medical term for earwax is cerumen. It is a substance made by glands found in the ear canal. It isn’t harmful and is not dirty. In fact, earwax serves several vital functions for our ears. They are listed below:

• Protection: Coating the skin inside our ear canals, earwax provides a barrier against bacteria and other small particles that could produce an infection.
• Moisture balance: Maintaining a delicate moisture, earwax can help our ear canal not dry out or feel itchy.
• Cleaning system: Believe it or not, earwax moves outward through our ear canals, cleaning dust and dead skin cells along the way. 

The natural motion of talking and chewing causes the jaw to move in such a way that it forces earwax to move toward the ear canal opening.

Myths and Misunderstandings

Many people believe the myth that earwax should be removed regularly. They often use cotton swabs to clean their ears, which can actually harm the inner ear. Rather than removing earwax, swabs can actually push the wax deeper into the ear canal, causing a blockage. This can impact our hearing and even damage the eardrum.

Signs of Earwax Buildup

Earwax is something our body produces naturally; however, there are circumstances in which it might build up on its own and cause a blockage. When this happens, you might noticed some of the following symptoms:

• Trouble hearing
• Sounds becoming muffled
• Having a sense of your ears feeling full or clogged
• Ringing in the ear
• Ear discomfort
• Dizziness or balance problems

If these symptoms persist for more than a day or two, it is vital to have your hearing checked. A hearing health professional can do an assessment and recommend an appropriate treatment protocol.

Safe Earwax Removal at Home

While it needs to be done carefully, there are safe ways to remove earwax at home.

• Ear drops: Using over-the-counter ear drops can help to soften earwax and allow the body to more efficiently remove it.
• Irrigation kits: Some pharmacies sell ear irrigation kits that gently rinse the ear with warm water after drops have softened the wax.

When to Seek Professional Help

It is essential to note that not all earwax can be safely removed at home. There are some cases when it is absolutely necessary to see a hearing health professional.

• You experience sudden or severe hearing loss.
• Ear pain, drainage, or bleeding is present.
• You have diabetes, a weakened immune system, or other health conditions that make ear infections more dangerous.
• A child has earwax problems. Children’s ears are smaller and more delicate, so professional care is the safest approach.

Hearing health professionals can provide specialized tools that allow for safe removal of earwax. These include controlled irrigation, suction devices, and small instruments.

Protecting Long-Term Hearing Health

While earwax is essential to our hearing health, protecting your ears from loud noises and undergoing regular hearing checkups are also important. Recognizing the important part earwax plays in our hearing is important to assuring long-term hearing health. 

Conclusion

While earwax may not be a favorite topic of conversation, it is still essential to recognize its importance. It typically does its job quietly and without incident, cleaning the ear canal and maintaining the proper moisture balance. Problems usually only start when there is an excessive amount of it or when someone tries to remove it in an unsafe manner. Recognizing this is crucial to maintaining your hearing health. Always consult a hearing health professional if you have any questions about your hearing. They can assess your situation and recommend an appropriate avenue of treatment.