I’m having trouble hearing. Is it due to earwax?

A thorough examination of your ear is crucial to identify the cause of your hearing difficulty. While wax buildup can indeed result in muffled hearing, it's vital to understand that hearing loss itself can also cause sensations of plugged or muffled hearing. Have you had a recent hearing test? In addition to checking for wax accumulation, we offer comprehensive hearing evaluations. If your hearing issues are not due to wax buildup, we can offer personalized treatment recommendations to help enhance your hearing.

Should I try to remove it myself?

It's wise to steer clear of common methods like using cotton swabs or attempting ear candling, also known as ear coning, for ear cleaning. Ear candling can be particularly risky, as it may result in damage from hot, dripping wax. Opting for safer and more effective approaches to address earwax blockage is recommended. Fortunately, there are several alternative methods available to alleviate wax blockage in the ears without risking harm. .

The ear has a natural self-cleaning mechanism, and you can help facilitate this process during showering by tilting your head slightly to the side and allowing warm water to gently flow into your ear, flushing out any buildup. Nonetheless, despite your diligence, certain ear canal shapes may require extra assistance to ensure clear and unobstructed ears. .

What are the types of ear wax removal services?

Simple ear-wax removal is when the procedure takes 15 minutes or less. We will inspect your ear canals and recommend whether ear wax removal is necessary. In the case that you do not have earwax, a consultation fee of $20 will be chargeable.

Occasionally we see patients with significant ear wax buildup that requires multiple treatments. Procedures that last longer than 15 minutes are classified as complex and require a follow-up visit.

What are the costs for ear wax removal?

Earwax removal costs $50.

If you are determined not to have earwax, and we perform a visual inspection of your ear canals, a consultation fee of $20 is applicable.

How long does ear wax removal take?

A simple earwax removal treatment lasts 15 minutes.

Complex procedures require multiple flushing treatments.

Are there any safety considerations?

If you have any underlying condition, such as diabetes, chronic ear infections or ruptured eardrum, or have had one in the recent past we can unfortunately not perform ear wax removal.

For a better outcome, we recommend you use Cerumol / Audiologist Choice oil for a few days before the treatment. However, you should avoid using this product if you have an active ear infection, drainage from the ear, or other symptoms that may require medical attention. For help removing wax with any of these underlying pathologies, an ear, nose, and throat doctor may provide medicine or additional recommendations.

How will you remove ear wax?

The first step is to inspect your ear canals with an otoscope.

Initial viewing will determine if earwax removal is necessary or possible. In many cases, a small amount of wax is natural and part of the body’s defense system — in which case we will not perform earwax removal. It is not necessary to remove ear wax completely from the ear. A little bit is actually healthy for the ear to protect from germs and bacteria.

If earwax buildup is significant, we may start by using an oil to dissolve hardened earwax. This will soften the wax and make it easier and more comfortable to remove.

Removal is then typically performed using a gentle irrigation method. We may also use special grasping tools such as alligator forceps to grab and pull out portions of earwax. The specific method will vary, based on your specific situation.