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Excess earwax can cause discomfort, pain, and impaired hearing. It can be removed by a doctor using irrigation or curette scraping, as using cotton swabs can damage the inner ear.
Normally, earwax – the sticky, orange-brown substance secreted by glands inside the ear – supports health by trapping foreign particles before they can enter the inner ear. In some individuals, however, this secretion is produced in abnormally large quantities or fails to drain properly, leading to excess earwax. This condition can lead to a variety of problems, from ear pain to impaired hearing. Fortunately, with the help of a doctor, excessive wax in the ear can be treated quite easily.
In most individuals, earwax gradually works its way from the site of its production to the outer ear. Once it has reached the outer ear, it usually falls out or is unconsciously rinsed off while bathing. For reasons that aren’t fully understood by researchers, however, this self-cleaning process is impaired in some people. These individuals may produce abnormally large amounts of earwax or their earwax may resist the natural drainage process. Either way, they eventually experience a buildup of earwax.
This excess earwax typically hardens over time, often leading to a variety of ear problems. For example, the wax can cause discomfort or even pain in the affected ear. It can also lead to decreased hearing or the perception of ringing or wave-like noises, a condition known as tinnitus. Fortunately, the problems caused by excess earwax are usually impermanent and are generally resolved by removing the earwax buildup.
Earwax removal is often a fairly simple procedure. However, due to the fragile nature of the inner ear, earwax removal should be performed by a doctor in most cases. The two most commonly used techniques for removing a block of wax are irrigation and curette scraping.
To remove excess earwax using irrigation, a doctor uses a syringe to squirt a gentle stream of warm water or saline into the affected ear. The solution causes the block of wax to soften and drain or fall out of the ear. You may have to repeat this process several times before the wax comes off.
Some doctors prefer to treat excess wax with a small, paddle-shaped instrument called a curette. The curette is gently inserted into the affected ear. Then, the doctor simply removes the earwax blockage from the ear.
Those suffering from earwax blockage may be tempted to try treating it at home. However, sometimes symptoms that suggest a blockage can actually result from a more serious condition. Additionally, the delicate structures of the inner ear are easily damaged by improperly used cotton swabs or other cleaning devices. Therefore, while excess earwax may seem like a minor health concern, those affected should see a doctor for an evaluation.
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