Ask the Audiologist Part 1

Question “How do I get rid of the wax in my ears” Answer: There are a few methods to help clear your ears of wax. Many people use cotton swabs or Q-tips. However, this is not the best method as it can further push the wax deeper into the ear canal, eventually causing impaction.  One simple method is to allow water to irrigate your ear while you take a shower.  By allowing the water stream to flush the ear, this will help removed any excessive wax that may have built up. If water is caught in the ear simply shake you head to the side to release it.  A second method is to use an ear wash kit. These can be found in most pharmacies. They usually consist of ear drops to soften the wax and a bulb to flush the ear canal. Using the ear wash two days in a row will usually remove much of the build-up. One common brand is called Debrox. There are of course times when the amount of wax is so significant that these methods do not work, and it becomes necessary to see your audiologist to remove it and determine the cause of the buildup.   Question: “My ears are itchy what can I do to stop this?” Answer: Often itchy ears are caused by dry skin or cerumen (wax) in the ear canals. A simple method to help this is to put an oil in your ears. The oil achieves two things. It will help with the dry skin, and it will also loosen any wax that has built up causing the irritation. Simply put a few drops of oil in each ear canal two times a week. Mineral oil, baby oil or a specialty oil for ears called Miracell can be used. If these methods don’t relieve the itch, it may be necessary to contact a dermatologist to find other possible options. (It should be noted however if you have a known hole in your ear drum you should not do this and see your ENT/MD for other methods).  If you’re not sure if its wax or dry skin contact your audiologist who can examine our ears to help determine the cause.   Question: “I was told the technology for hearing aids have really improved in the last few years what has changed?” Answer: There have been some great improvements in hearing aids in recent years. Hearing aids blue tooth compatible, improved recharge ability and improved noise reduction capabilities. These improvements have really made wearing hearing aids much more convenient and comfortable. The blue tooth compatibilities allow mobile cell phones to work directly with the hearing aids, allowing telephone calls to go directly through the aids giving the wearer a clear signal. In addition, music can also be streamed through hearing aids for those who choose it.  Improved re-chargeability now allows for hearing aids to last 24 hours on a single charge, giving the wearer much more flexibility.