Earwax is naturally produced by the glands in the ears to act as a lubricant for the ear canals and protect them from debris and dust. In most cases, earwax naturally exits the ear canals, but sometimes it can accumulate and cause a blockage.
Earwax blockage is more common in those who wear hearing aids or ear molds. In this circumstance, professional ear cleaning is suggested. Santa Clarita Hearing Center offers professional ear cleaning and earwax removal in Valencia, CA, and nearby areas.
Why is it necessary to address earwax buildup?
If your ears have gathered too much earwax to the extent of impaction, you’ll need to have your ears cleaned or your earwax removed by a professional. It is essential to clean out your ears since failing to do so could lead to infections and other auditory issues including earaches, vertigo, or hearing loss.
Consult an audiologist as soon as you can to determine if the issue is simply the consequence of too much earwax or whether there is another health issue that needs to be addressed.
What to do when you have excessive earwax?
Although the ears use earwax primarily as a self-cleaning and protective lubricant, overproduction of earwax is not good. Excessive earwax can accumulate and harden, blocking the ears and preventing healthy hearing. If left untreated, it can also result in ear infections and discomfort.
If you experience any of the following, you probably have too much wax built up, thus you should have professional ear cleaning:
- Muffled hearing
- Ear discharge
- Earache
- Itchiness in the ear
All of these symptoms suggest an excessive waxy accumulation. But don’t panic; an audiologist can clean your ears and provide you advice on how frequently you should do so to avoid this from happening again.
Tinnitus and excessive earwax
Tinnitus is a common symptom that appears immediately after being subjected to loud noise. In extreme cases, tinnitus noises may keep you up at night and have an effect on your physical and mental health.
Tinnitus often goes away on its own, but chronic tinnitus may indicate an ear obstruction or an excessive accumulation of wax. Even an illness like Meniere’s disease might cause it as a symptom. It’s best to visit a hearing care professional as soon as you can in any circumstance.
If the audiologist determines an earwax obstruction, getting rid of the impaction through professional ear cleaning may relieve tinnitus symptoms significantly.
Earwax and balance issues
Your inner ears are very important in maintaining your sense of balance, therefore if you encounter something off with your balance, consider it a red flag and an indicator that there might be something wrong with your inner ear. Getting a professional ear cleaning can help alleviate symptoms because obstruction and wax accumulation might be the culprit in some cases of balance distortion.
Avoid these ear-cleaning techniques
The majority of people use cotton swabs or Q-tips to remove earwax from their ears. We strongly discourage using cotton swabs to remove wax because it may only drive the dirt deeper into the ear canal.
Cotton swabs should only be used to clean the outer part of the ear. Never insert cotton buds or any other pointed objects into your ear canal to avoid hurting your inner ear and eardrum.
Professional Ear Cleaning in Valencia, CA
No one really wants to deal with earwax buildup, but this doesn’t mean that you have to use cotton swabs to rid your ears of wax. Remember, earwax is healthy in moderate amounts. Professional ear cleaning can help prevent ear injuries and infections, and improve your overall hearing health.
Santa Clarita Hearing Center offers professional ear-cleaning services in Valencia, CA. Contact us to schedule an appointment!