Trusted, Professional Earwax Removal in Mississauga, ON
Although cotton swabs are the most common instrument, people also use other everyday items like combs, hairpins, pens, pencils, straws and toothpicks, all of which make us cringe. In reality, for the vast majority, earwax does not cause any problems and there isn’t a need to remove it, and attempting to remove it can lead to a punctured eardrum or the pain and discomfort of impacted earwax.
According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, as long as the ears are functioning properly, people should not be trying to remove earwax and should leave it alone.
“But what if excessive earwax is causing me pain or causing my hearing aids to malfunction? Is there someone who provides earwax removal near me?”
Port Credit Audiology & Hearing Aid Clinic provides trusted, professional earwax removal in Mississauga, ON for individuals struggling with excessive earwax or impacted earwax throughout Southern Ontario.
What Is Earwax?
Designed to lubricate as well as clean dirt, fungus, bacteria and other foreign debris from the ear canal, earwax is part of the natural process designed to keep your ears healthy. Most of the time, earwax, along with the dirt, debris, fungus and bacteria it collects, works its way from the inner ear canal to the outer ear while you talk or chew, falling out on its own or allowing you to wipe it away with a washcloth.
The sticky, wax-like oil known as cerumen, or earwax, must be kept in a delicate balance between having enough earwax and having too much. Too much can lead to a blockage in the ear canal or hamper the function of hearing aids, while too little can lead to infection, dryness and irritation, which is why it’s best to let a hearing care professional deal with earwax the right way.
Common Symptoms of Earwax Buildup
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Aural fullness (stuffiness)
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Earaches
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Headaches
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Muffled hearing
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Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
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Dizziness or vertigo
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Balance issues
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Itchiness or irritation in the ear canal
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Decreased hearing aid performance
The Main Cause of Earwax Buildup and Impacted Earwax
Excessive earwax buildup can come from having narrow ear canals, the loss of elasticity in the ear canal as you age, living/working in dusty environments and hearing aid use. However, most impacted earwax is the result of using cotton swabs or some other object to clean earwax out of your ears.
When you’re trying to dig out earwax, you’re more likely to push it deeper into your ear canal, packing it tighter rather than removing it, while also increasing the risk of rupturing or damaging your eardrum.
Myths and Misconceptions Related to Earwax Removal
Myth #1
My ears make too much earwax!
In reality, your ears make just the right amount of earwax, but excessive cleaning can signal the cells that make the earwax to step up production because your ear canal is too dry.
Myth #2
Cotton swabs are the best option for removing earwax.
Actually, when using a cotton swab, you’ll probably push the earwax farther down the ear canal until it is packed tightly. You also run the risk of packing wax against the eardrum or piercing it.
Myth #3
The best earwax removal tips are on YouTube.
If you want to learn how to make certain crafts products, follow product reviews, get cleaning tips, etc., you may get some great tips from YouTube. However, few people who produce YouTube videos are professionals in Audiology or have any experience in hearing healthcare, so their tips may actually cause more harm than good.
Myth #4
My ears will sort things out for themselves.
DIY Earwax Removal Methods to Avoid
How Port Credit Audiology Does Earwax Removal
Prepare for Your Appointment
At Port Credit Audiology, we recommend using olive or mineral oil in the affected ear for three to four consecutive days prior to coming in for your appointment. Oil helps soften the wax to allow for an easier and more comfortable removal. Here are some tips on how to use the oil:
- Use two to three drops of oil in one ear at a time at the end of the day
- Lie sideways for about five minutes to let the oil soak in
- Use a tissue to catch excess oil or earwax that comes loose
- Repeat this process for three to four days, as earwax can build in layers and can take time to soften
In-Office Removal
Your hearing care provider will collect a case history and examine your ears by using a video otoscope (you get to watch along with us), making it possible to visualize the extent of any blockage and determine the best method of removal.
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:
Removal Using a Curette
This is a small tool with a loop used to gently pull the wax from the 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.
Water Irrigation
Using a low-pressure tool to push warm water into the ear canal is another method for gently removing earwax. The warm water will soften the wax and then bring it out as it drains out of the ear.
After the procedure, your hearing care provider will assess the health of your ear canals and eardrums and then counsel you on any type of follow-up deemed necessary, including recommendations on how to care for your ears at home.
The fee for an earwax removal is $45 per ear. In the situation that no wax is found, there is a standard $45 appointment fee.
Schedule Your Earwax Removal Appointment
Our objective as a professional hearing care team is to ensure that your hearing system is working as it should, which includes the health of the ear canal and the production of earwax.
So, our trusted professionals at Port Credit Audiology & Hearing Aid Clinic are more than happy to answer your questions or concerns about earwax removal as well as provide professional earwax removal.
Submit the adjacent form in order to schedule your earwax removal appointment as soon as possible and get the relief you need from the pain and stuffiness of impacted earwax.
Don’t want to wait? Call us at: (905) 990-3755.
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