Ear wax removal

Ear care professionals will usually recommend micro suction which is the most modern, advanced, safest, and pain-free form of ear wax removal. It is carried out with a specialist medical grade vacuum pump that gently sucks the earwax out of the ear. The procedure is undertaken using a special microscope or microscope glasses called Loupes. This allows the professional to clearly see exactly what they are doing. No liquids are used during the procedure which significantly reduces the risk of damage to the eardrum and infection. The fact that we can clearly see the ear canal and more importantly exactly what we are doing, makes it the safest and most comfortable method of earwax removal.

Unlike ear syringing and ear irrigation, micro suction wax removal can be performed in people who have a perforated eardrum or grommet, mastoid cavity or cleft palate.

Low-pressure irrigation is often used it there is deep lying wax that cannot be removed by other methods. Ear wax removal by irrigation has all but replaced the old-fashioned technique of ear syringing (see below). It is a far safer and more effective water method of ear cleaning. The procedure is undertaken with either a manual or electronic spray type ear wash. The irrigation solution is carefully warmed to body temperature for comfort. Then the professional gently pumps water into the ear canal at a controlled and steady rate. The stream is aimed at the walls of the ear canal avoiding the ear drum. The solution breaks down and dislodges the ear wax then flushes the ear wax out of the canal where it is captured in an ear cup. 

Please note: not everyone is suitable for earwax removal by irrigation. Ear irrigation is not appropriate if you: 

• have a perforated eardrum, or if you have had a perforation in the last 12 months. 
• have previously had problems with irrigation, such as pain in your ear or severe vertigo. 
• have a discharge of mucus from your ear or have had an ear infection in the preceding two months. 
• have recurring or persistent infections of the ear canal. 
• have had any ear surgery (apart from cases of extruded grommets which had come out at least 18 months beforehand) or had a middle ear infection (otitis media) in the past six weeks. 

Manual removal of earwax is also effective. Using suction, special miniature instruments such as loops, curettes and forceps or a Jobson Horne probe, and a microscope to magnify the ear canal. Manual removal is sometimes preferred if your ear canal is narrow, the eardrum has a perforation or tube, other methods have failed, or if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system.

Also (wrongly) known as ear buds. These are a definite NO NO!

Doctors and hearing care specialists have seen many catastrophes resulting from using cotton buds. They only serve to push whatever is in your ear further down the ear canal and possibly onto the ear drum which, at best, makes an ear wax situation worse, and, could lead to an ear drum perforation and permanent hearing loss.   

It is undoubtedly satisfying to poke around your own ear with a cotton bud, but it serves no other useful purpose and should be avoided at all costs!

There are several other items that people (should not) use to clean their ears. Some of the most interesting include: 

• Hair pins
• Tweezers
• Pens and pencils
• Straws
• Paper clips
• Toys

While this is only a partial list, it's important to realize that NOTHING should be placed inside the ear to remove dirt and debris. 

 (Watch the video below)  

Often known as Hopi Candles, the basic claim is that the heat from the flame melts and loosens the ear wax and creates negative pressure that 'sucks' the wax into the candle.

Research shows the claims made for these candles are just outlandish and they have no basis in scientific fact.  

The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) advises earwax candling has no benefit in earwax management, can result in serious injury and should never be used and the American Academy of Otolaryngology states that ear candles are not a safe option for removing ear wax and that no controlled studies or scientific evidence support their use for ear wax removal.

Ear candles are balderdash, a scam - they don't work and anyone who says they do is either self-deluded or simply looking to take your money. 

(Watch the video below) 

Syringing as a method of wax removal is now prohibited by the current (2018) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Assessment and Management Guidelines for Hearing Loss in Adults.

Ear syringing is an old out-of-date method of removing earwax. it is no longer undertaken as the process proved to have too many problems and caused too many complications. More often than not it did not remove all of the wax.

Traditionally, a GP would refer you to a nurse to carry out the syringing treatment. A metal ear syringe was loaded with warm water which was then squirted into the ear canal and a kidney dish was held under the ear to catch the water and wax that was flushed out. The nurse would use his or her judgment as to how forcefully to syringe the water. If you have had a bad experience with syringing in the past you can be assured that microsuction and irrigation are much more comfortable.