Information
Editors
Ear Wax
Essentials
- Ear wax protects the ear canal from infection.
- Do not remove ear wax unless it
- impairs hearing or causes other symptoms
- prevents the investigation of the ear canal and tympanic membrane.
Symptoms
- In addition to a feeling of blockedness, the wax can cause a humming noise, impairment of hearing and sometimes even dizziness.
Removal of ear wax
- Soft ear wax is usually easy to remove with a suction tip or a small cotton wool probe through an ear speculum.
- Harder wax can often be removed with an alligator forceps. An ordinary ear forceps is often too clumsy.
- Hard earwax can be difficult to remove. If the wax cannot be removed with an ear probe or by inserting a wax curette behind the wax lump and pulling, or with small alligator forceps, the ear should be irrigated with body-warm saline (or water). Direct the tip of the syringe towards the posterior upper wall of the ear canal and straighten the ear canal by pulling the auricle with fingers. The irrigation jet should not be pointed directly at the tympanic membrane.
- Irrigating is contraindicated in cases of perforated tympanic membrane. Purulent discharge from the ear is an exception.
- Wax dissolving drops and sprays intended to soften ear wax Ear Drops for the Removal of Ear Wax are available without prescription at the pharmacy. Additionally, separate products to prevent the formation of a wax plug are available.
- Wax dissolving agents act already within about 20 minutes, but they can be applied already at home before the irrigation, for example on three preceding evenings. Dissolving agents must be rinsed off either at the appointment or, by using an ear pump/bulb syringe available at pharmacy, at home.
- If a wax plug repeatedly forms and blocks the patient's ear canal, he/she should have ear wax removed 1-2 times a year.
- Prophylaxis may be attempted with ear oils developed especially for that purpose, containing either synthetic, jojoba or olive oil.