Ear wax, also known by the medical term cerumen, is a grey, orange, red or yellowish waxy substance secreted in the ear canal of humans and other mammals. Earwax consists of dead skin cells, hair, and the secretions of cerumen by the ceruminous and sebaceous glands of the outer ear canal.
In short, yes, earwax can cause hearing loss. But it doesn’t occur as commonly as one might think. In fact, very few patients who are seen by hearing healthcare professionals have hearing loss that is literally due to excessive ear wax (cerumen impaction).
The appearance of ear wax varies from light yellow to dark brown. Darker colours don’t necessarily indicate that there’s a blockage.
Signs of earwax build up include: sudden or partial hearing loss, tinnitus, a feeling of fullness in the ear and possibly earache.
Unremoved earwax build up can lead to infection. Contact a specialist if you experience the symptoms of infection, such as severe pain in your ear, pain in your ear that doesn’t subside, drainage from your ear, fever, coughing, persistent hearing loss, an odour coming from your ear or dizziness.
Your earwax says a lot about you.
There are two primary types of earwax — wet and dry. Even the colour of your cerumen can say a lot about you. Dark brown or black coloured earwax is typically older, so its colour comes from the dirt and bacteria it has trapped Light brown, orange or yellow earwax is healthy and normal.
Earwax blockage can often be prevented by avoiding the use of cotton-tipped swabs or Q-tips and other objects that push the wax deeper into the ear canal.
Microsuction is an ear wax removal technique which is safe, comfortable and pain-free. It involves the use of a binocular microscope which provides a clear and magnified view of the ear canal. With such a clear view, a fine low-pressure suction device can be used to remove any ear wax obstructions safely.
Some people are prone to produce too much earwax. In fact, the most common cause of earwax blockage is at-home removal. Using cotton swabs, bobby pins, or other objects in your ear canal can also push wax deeper, creating a blockage. You’re also more likely to have wax build up if you frequently use earphones.
Tinnitus is a very common disorder over the world. It is often referred to as “ringing in the ears,” although some people hear hissing, roaring, whistling, buzzing or clicking. Tinnitus is not actually a disease, but a symptom of another underlying condition of the ear, auditory nerve or other influencing factors. Tinnitus can be intermittent or constant, with single or multiple tones. The perceived volume can range from very soft to extremely loud and may be recurrent or constant.
Tinnitus can sometimes go away on its own, but it depends on what is causing it in the first place. If tinnitus is caused by medication or excessive ear wax, then it should fade when the medication is stopped or the wax is removed. Other times, the ear will heal and the sound will fade until it is gone.
About 6 out of 100 people accumulate excess ear wax. Other reasons for the excessive accumulation of ear wax include:
- Lack of ear wax and sloughed skin migration
- Can be the result of the normal ageing process
- Can also be caused by inappropriate ear wax removal methods.
Microsuction: Modern methods of ear wax removal are far easier than the ear syringing of old, they are safer and far more comfortable. Microsuction earwax removal is performed using a microscope which allows us to see what we are doing, and a medical suction device to suck out the wax. It is recognised as one of the most comfortable and safe procedures for ear wax removal. The procedure is suitable for everyone.
In dry ears, earwax itself becomes dry and hard, when you try to remove it, the harden wax often pulls tissue of the ear canal. This can cause sore even bleeding ears. As long as there isn’t a profuse or continuous bleeding associated with hearing loss there isn’t anything to worry about it.
If you have been using an olive oil spray or drops to soften the wax prior to your appointment, the procedure shouldn’t take any longer than 30 minutes.
This is method is known as Microsuction. Microsuction is the removal of wax, debris using a small suction tube and a fine suction end.