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 them . 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 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 ear wax build up , it is important that you regularly have the ear wax removed to prevent build up before it causes discomfort and pain .

When ear wax builds up and becomes impacted , this can cause hearing loss . This can cause 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 this hearing loss until a hearing care professional investigates . This loss can feel incredibly isolating and is very frustrating if you are trying to have conversations and work with a blocked ear .

Additionally , if one of our ears is blocked or full of ear wax , 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 , it causes a problem when it builds up .

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 .

Ear Studio is located at Suite 9-10 / 60 Cecil Avenue , Lawton House in Castle Hill .

TRADING HOURS : Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm . Contact us : 02 9159 6122 or reception @ earstudio . com . au or you can visit : www . earstudio . com . au

Ear Studio is proudly independent and locally owned .