Are your ears blocked with wax?
Did you know that even in a small city such as Hobart there are up to 15,000 people who suffer the negative effects of ear wax impaction? Imagine the numbers then in Sydney! Earworx shares some helpful information on treating wax- blocked ears.
Wax impaction is suffered by two to six per cent of the population, and can cause unwanted symptoms such as loss of hearing, ringing in the ears, itching, a feeling of fullness and pain. This naturally occurring effect in your ears could be causing you hearing loss and unnecessary discomfort.
Many Australians who suffer with wax in their ears use cotton buds or bobby pins as their solution, but the experts tell us that they shouldn’t be used to try and clear the ear. Not only can they cause trauma to the ear, they may also push the wax further down the ear canal causing hearing loss and potentially, infection. The message here is please don’t do this!
Risk factors for wax impaction and blockage include:
- Excessive ear wax production
- Narrow, curvy or hairy ear canals
- Advancing age
- Wearing hearing aids
- Using cotton buds, hair pins or other objects in the ear
- Working in dusty environments
- Developmental delays
Divers and surfers may also be at risk, where the higher pressure under water can cause wax to be pushed down the ear canal or up against the drum. The colder ocean waters can also cause those who swim or surf to develop bony growths in their ear behind which wax can become trapped.
While wax impaction can seem debilitating, there is a simple and safe solution available to you – micro-suction and curettage. This dry technique, available previously only through ear, nose and throat surgeons, is now also available in NSW and ACT as a dedicated clinic.
Micro-suction is a safe, comfortable and effective technique used to remove ear wax. It can be used to clear wax, remove foreign bodies, and clear debris in the ear canal related to infection allowing for better penetration of treatment drops.
Removing fully impacted ear wax prior to a hearing test is essential to allow a test to be performed or for a GP to diagnose any conditions where a clear view of the eardrum is important.
While excessive ear wax isn’t the sole cause of blocked ears, it is a good idea to eliminate this as a reason prior to investigating alternative causes. The new registered nurse-led service available in NSW and the ACT does not require a referral and will take little more than 30 minutes of your day.
For more information about Earworx, visit earworx.com.au.
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