It’s not uncommon for patients to complain of hearing loss only to find out they have an earwax buildup. While most earwax clears itself on its own, if you have hard earwax or narrow ear canals, it can build up and require the help of a physician to clear the blockage.
What Is Cerumen Impaction?
Cerumen is the medical term for earwax, and while it is important to help protect your ears from the outside elements, sometimes too much earwax in the canal can cause problems. If you experience pain, itchiness, ringing in the ear or hearing loss, you may have impacted cerumen.
Earwax buildup can be the result of many factors. Some people naturally produce more earwax, others have hard or dry earwax and some have excess hair or small ear canals that prevent natural cleaning. Some people may have excess cerumen due to frequent use of earbuds or hearing aids. Cotton swabs can also cause earwax to build up from pushing it into the ear canal.
How Is Impacted Cerumen Removed?
When home removal of earwax is insufficient, a physician can intervene and use a microscope to magnify the ear canal and specialized tools to remove the impacted wax. In some cases, the physician may use suction in addition to cleaning the ear canal.
What Is Foreign Body Removal?
Kids often put small toys or other objects in places they don’t belong, including their ear canal. Due to the delicate nature of this anatomy, it is sometimes necessary to see a physician to remove a small object from the ear. Insects can also crawl inside the ear canal and need the help of a specialist to remove them.
What Can I Expect During a Foreign Body Removal?
Your physician will examine the ear and use an otoscope to magnify the area. Depending on the nature of the object, a physician may use thin tweezers, magnets, suction, or water to dislodge the item.
What Sort of Aftercare Is Necessary?
Following cerumen removal or a foreign body removal, your physician will examine the ear and determine if there is any infection or injury to the ear and possibly prescribe medication. They may discuss home cleaning options to ensure no further damage or wax buildup occurs.
Call Surgery Center of Bluffton at (843) 766-7103 for more information or to schedule an appointment.