Are your ears feeling stuffy and achy, but you don’t have a cold? The problem could be a result of impacted earwax in your ear canal.
A healthy ear canal is critical when it comes to being able to hear clearly. That’s why your ears were designed to be ‘self-cleaning’ with the help of cerumen, better known as earwax.
However, if earwax builds up or becomes impacted it can have a negative effect on your hearing health. As such, controlling earwax should be considered a basic hearing health service rather than a luxury service.
At Port Credit Audiology & Hearing Aid Clinic, earwax removal is a basic hearing care service that doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg. We want to be transparent about what you should be paying for it and how much we charge.
Before we do that, let’s answer three common questions about earwax and earwax removal.
Why do I have earwax in the first place?
Because it can be such a pain at times, you might be wondering why your ears produce earwax in the first place.
The answer is simple. Earwax is part of the natural safety and maintenance system for the ear canal, protecting the middle ear from developing infections from foreign intruders.
Normally, as you talk and chew, little balls of earwax that have trapped dust, debris, and various pathogens move toward the outer ear, where they drop out or are easily wiped away.
If you use earbuds to listen to music, wear earplugs for hearing protection at work, or wear hearing aids, those little balls of wax might get backed up or pushed back into the ear canal. Most people reach for a cotton swab to try to remove earwax but end up pressing it deeper into the ear canal, where it becomes impacted.
What does impacted earwax feel like?
The common symptoms of impacted earwax are itching and irritation, stuffiness, aching, and muffled hearing – many of the same symptoms you have when you have a cold or flu.
More severe cases may cause headaches, ringing in your ears, dizziness or vertigo, and even balance issues.
Those who wear hearing aids will begin to experience decreased instrument performance, and the built-up earwax in your device can also cause damage to delicate internal components.
Does Port Credit Audiology remove earwax?
Your appointment with us will be an all-inclusive experience that prioritizes your hearing health, in addition to removing excess wax from your ears.
You’ll first talk to your hearing care provider, who will collect a case history of your hearing health. This includes questions about medications you’re taking, what kind of lifestyle you lead, family history and more to understand you as a person, not just a patient.
Your ears will be examined via a video otoscope so you and your hearing care provider will be able to see the extent of earwax blockage and remove it efficiently and painlessly.
Once your provider determines the best method of removal based on the location, amount and consistency of the wax as well as the health of your eardrums, one of two methods for removal will be used.
The most common means of removing earwax at Port Credit Audiology & Hearing Aid Clinic is water irrigation. This process involves the use of a low-pressure instrument that washes your ear canal with warm water, softening and breaking up the earwax so that it gently flows out.
In some cases we’ll use a looped instrument, known as a curette, to gently pull stubborn bits of earwax from your ear canal. Because your provider has a better point of view and is trained in the proper use of the curette, this is a safe and effective method of removing wax.
Regardless of which technique we use, the entire process often takes less than 30 minutes. After the earwax is removed, your hearing care provider will assess the health of your eardrums to ensure that the earwax blockage didn’t damage them and take a look at your ear canals to make sure they’re healthy.
You’ll then receive counselling on any type of follow-up deemed necessary, including recommendations on how to care for your ears at home. Your hearing health is crucial, and we’re here to make sure your ears remain healthy and clear! Best of all, you will leave feeling refreshed and confident about your hearing health.
How much does it cost?
Here’s the bottom line:
At Port Credit Audiology & Hearing Aid Clinic, we see earwax removal as a basic hearing care service, and our cost is only $90 per appointment. Should we examine your ears and discover there is no earwax to remove, we’ll charge you a standard $90 appointment fee.
If you are struggling with earwax buildup or impacted earwax, or your hearing care provider doesn’t provide earwax removal, contact us to schedule an appointment or call us at (905) 990-3755.
