Earwax Removal Services

Earwax removal, also known as cerumen management, is the removal of excessive earwax that can build up over time. Normally, earwax is a good thing because it naturally protects your ear. However, in some cases your body can produce too much of it to the point that you may not be able to hear as well as you should. 

While there are some do-it-yourself methods to clean your ears of earwax, like cotton swabs, bobby pins and other objects put into the ear, we generally advise against doing it yourself. These methods usually may clear a path, but doesn't actually remove the earwax. You may actually wind up compacting the earwax in a way that can lead to it drying out and not actually solving your problem. The instruments you use at home may also damage part of your inner ear, causing permanent hearing damage. 
 
We always recommend getting professional earwax removal services from a hearing centre like ours, or your family doctor. Our hearing care professionals possess the necessary equipment and skills to safely remove your excess earwax, thanks to their specialized education, training, and professional experience.  We are able to safely and painlessly clean your ears and flush out the earwax without potentially damaging your ears.

Are Your Ears Blocked by Earwax?

Some people are prone to producing excessive earwax, but it doesn’t automatically lead to blockage. Problems may arise when people try to remove the earwax at home because do-it-yourself techniques can create a worse blockage and/or cause an injury to your ear. Here is more information on earwax blockage that you should know.

Impacted earwax happens when you have too much of it. When it starts to partially or completely block your ear canal, it is considered impacted.

Objects placed in your ear can also lead to a blockage, especially if done repeatedly.

Having impacted earwax can cause a number of symptoms and issues with your ears and hearing. It can also prevent a full exam of the ear. If you have too much ear wax at the time of your hearing test you may be asked to visit your doctor if the clinic doesn’t perform the earwax removal service.

Most people have a small amount of earwax that regularly makes its way to the opening of the ear. If you have excessive earwax, it may build up and block your ear canal. Earwax can get pushed deep within the ear canal if you use a cotton swab.

You’re also more likely to have wax buildup if you frequently use earphones. They can inadvertently prevent ear wax from coming out of the ear canals and cause blockages.

Common symptoms with buildup are:

• Earache
• Feeling of fullness in the affected ear
• Ringing or noises in the ear (tinnitus)
• Decreased hearing in the affected ear
• Dizziness
• Cough

You may only experience one or more of these symptoms. They often occur slowly over time, so it can be hard to notice right away. Once the earwax is removed, these symptoms usually improve. If they do not, we recommend you see your family doctor.

Your hearing care provider can do a visual inspection of your ear to determine if you have a buildup of earwax. If the buildup is serious enough, they may perform a cleaning themselves or they can refer you to request an appointment from a hearing clinic like ours. We also perform this visual check as part of our routine hearing tests.

Our earwax removal service will normally take around 15 to 30 minutes for the procedure. We recommend that the client softens their earwax with special removal drops, or a few drops of mineral or baby oil, before the appointment. This can be done a week or so before coming in for your scheduled procedure.