When you hear the word earwax, do you immediately think of something annoying, unsightly, or a sign of uncleanliness? If this sounds familiar, read on and find out why earwax is necessary and when and why it might need to be removed.
Does Earwax Have A Function?
Earwax plays a crucial role in maintaining our overall ear health. Essentially glands in your ear canal produce earwax to trap and remove dirt, dust, bacteria, pollen and other debris from the environment, including repelling insects and preventing them from moving deeper into your ear. It also protects the skin of your ear canal from water irritation, ensures the ear canal remains moisturised thus reducing the risk of itchy, dry ears. Furthermore, earwax’s slightly acidic nature has antibacterial properties, which help ward off potential infections.
Earwax Blockages
For the vast majority of us, earwax has no ill effects as our ears still function properly and we don’t experience any hearing loss. However, some people might have narrow, or hairy ear canals, or their glands are prone to producing an excessive build-up of wax, which may harden in the ear canal and effectively block the ear. As well as being in some discomfort and not hearing as well, they might also experience:
- Earache or blocked ears
- Ringing or buzzing (tinnitus)
- Vertigo (feeling dizzy and sick)
- Itchy ears
- Whistling noises in their hearing aid
- A deep and hollow sound to their own voice
If this happens and your ears feel bunged up but you haven’t got any noticeable hearing loss, then instead of trying to use your finger, or a cotton bud, to clean your ear, which may result in pushing the wax in deeper, we recommend that you consult with a professional. Years ago, many GP Surgeries offered an earwax removal service, nowadays and in most cases, you may have to pay to have them treated privately.
What To Do If You Have Discomfort But No Hearing Loss
If you are suffering with an earwax build up and have no hearing loss, we recommend that you get an ear wax check initially. This involves answering some basic questions and of course letting us look in your ears. If we have identified an excessive build-up of wax that needs to be removed, we will then use one of two methods.
- Ear irrigation – flushing the wax/debris out with low pressure pulses of water
- Mircrosuction – sucking the wax/debris out using a small vacuum
A Timely And Effective Solution
At The Ear Wax Removal Centre at 3 Lion Walk in Banbury, our treatments are safe, gentle and designed to be as comfortable as possible. Our qualified professionals have many years of experience in the NHS and the private sector and are experts in treating hard and impacted earwax with the utmost care and precision, which can help to restore your auditory clarity and wellbeing quickly and effectively.
Optimal Ear Health
David Peel, a highly experienced audiologist who is fully registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, said. “The next time you think about earwax, remember its protective and beneficial properties. Nature has designed it meticulously to keep our ears functioning smoothly. And for those times when there’s an imbalance, we have a range of solutions to ensure your ear health remains optimal.”
If you think you have blocked ears, don’t wait. The sooner we remove the wax and debris from your ears, the sooner you’ll feel better. An appointment usually lasts 30 minutes and will cost £75. Book your appointment today by calling 01295 557008.
