with Daniel Fechner , Ear Studio

We ’ ve all been told not to put anything smaller than our elbows in our ears . We are constantly told that cotton buds should not be used to clean our ears . You may have even tried an ear cleaning spray from the chemist , but it doesn ’ t seem to work .

So how are you supposed to keep your ears clean ?

Techniques such as micro suction , water irrigation and ear wax curettes can be used by trained and qualified hearing care professionals to safely remove ear wax from your ears .

The reason why hearing care professionals can safely put something smaller than your elbow into your ear canal , is because they have complete vision of your eardrum throughout the entire process .

When you use a cotton bud in your ears at home , you have no way of gauging how close you are to your ear drum .

Most people will only work it out once it is too late , and the damage is done .

It is important to remember that not every person needs ear wax professionally removed from their ears .

Ear wax only needs to be removed from the ear canal when it is starting to build up and block the ear , rather than naturally slowly making its own way out . You may need to have ear wax removed from your ears if you are experiencing any of the following sensations :

• Your ears feel full or blocked

• You have noticed your hearing is muffled or reduced

• Your ears are painful

• Water is getting trapped in your ears after swimming or showering

• Your ears have started to ring or buzz ( a sensation known as tinnitus )

There are many reasons why it is important to have ear wax removed when it is blocking your ear canal . Firstly , ear wax build up can be painful and cause earaches and headaches . If you are prone to build up , it is important that you regularly have the ear wax removed from the ear canal to prevent build up before it causes discomfort and pain .

When ear wax builds up and becomes impacted , it can cause hearing loss . This loss can cause a lot of fear and panic as people only experience the sensation of reduced hearing when the entire ear canal becomes full of wax .

Also , many people do not know the cause of the loss until a hearing care professional investigates the ear . This situation can feel incredibly isolating and it ’ s really frustrating if you are trying to have conversations and work with a blocked ear .

Additionally , if one of our ears is blocked it can cause dizziness . People

often feel dizzy because there is a difference between their ears . This disrupts the body ’ s sense of balance and equilibrium .

Keep in mind , we are meant to have ear wax in our ears as it helps our ears fight infections . Although , if wax starts to build up in your ear and blocks the ear canal , it should be removed by a hearing care professional .

If you are unsure if ear wax is causing your hearing concerns , you can book an appointment with a hearing care professional to look in your ears and find the cause .

Ear Studio , your local Audiology Competency Centre provides this service in a 30-minute appointment . If wax is not the cause of your hearing concerns , the hearing professional will investigate the cause of your symptoms and provide you with a comprehensive medical report .

Call Ear Studio today on ( 02 ) 9159 6122 or head to our website to book an appointment www . earstudio . com . au .

Ear Studio is located at Suite 9 / 60 Cecil Avenue , Lawton House in Castle Hill . Trading hours : Monday to Friday 9:00am to 6:00pm , Saturday by appointment only .

“ Proudly independent and locally owned .“