Should I have ear wax removed?

You may be aware that temporary hearing loss is commonly caused by a build up of wax inside the ear canal that leads to impacted wax. You may also have heard that the smallest thing allowed to go in your ear is your elbow, so how can you possibly remove earwax from your ear canal if you may only use your elbow?

Ear wax in itself is not necessarily detrimental to your ears or your hearing ability. Rather, the presence of earwax is considered healthy for our ears, since it acts as a cleaning agent for the ear canal.

You therefore don’t need to clean your ears deep inside the ear canal, but rather only if the wax becomes visible from the outside. Make sure you have a soft, damp cloth and easily wipe away any excess wax visible at the entrance of the ear canal. Avoid using cotton buds, as this may push wax deeper into the ear canal and lead to impacted wax.

If you notice a decline in hearing, make an appointment for a hearing evaluation. Ear wax as a possible cause of reduced hearing can easily be confirmed during your evaluation.