Earwax Impaction
What Causes Earwax Impaction?
Hey You, Drop the Cotton Swab…
Earwax impaction often creeps up on us when we are least expecting it! Let’s face it, we all have earwax and sometimes we just want to do a quick clean. Therefore, we feel compelled to use a cotton swab, bobby pin or even car keys to scrape out unwanted wax. The problem is, not only are these methods ineffective, but they actually make the problem worse!
When Earwax Removal Attempts Backfire…
In an attempt to remove earwax with one of these objects, we are actually pushing the wax further into the ear, gradually leading to impaction. Not only that, but sticking foreign objects into your ear can actually puncture the eardrum, break bones behind the ear and a number of other scary things. Catch my drift? For the more stubborn readers, let me put it this way, leave your keys in the ignition and use Earwax MD to safely clean away earwax. Head over to our blog to learn more about the downside of some earwax removal methods.
Symptoms
Are You Suffering from Earwax Impaction?
People have experienced hearing loss related to earwax impaction. How do you know if you have cerumen impaction? There are a wide range of symptoms:
- Hearing loss
- Tinnitus (constant ringing of the ears)
- Fullness in the ear
- Itching
- Otalgia (earache)
- Pain
- Discharge
- Drainage
- Odor
- Dizziness
Extraction Methods
Manual Removal Can Be Painful
If you choose not to use Earwax MD™, there are other methods of extraction available. Doctors can manually remove earwax using an ear curette, which is effective but can also be extremely painful. There are a number of devices that claim to remove earwax… but we’ll let you be the judge of whether or not those work.
Complications
Don’t Ignore Your Earwax Issues
Earwax impaction can lead to serious complications. But fear not, the serious ones are few and far between. Earwax impaction can prevent diagnostic assessment by preventing a full examination of the external ear canal and/or the eardrum. Additionally, several audiologic tests cannot be performed accurately because of complete or partial earwax impaction. Treating earwax impaction incorrectly can result in complications such as eardrum perforation, ear canal laceration, infection of the ear, or hearing difficulties.
Tests Hindered by Earwax Impaction Include:
Audiometry; immittance testing; electrocochleography (ECochG); otoacoustic emissions (OAE); auditory brain stem responses (ABR); and real ear measurements during hearing aid fitting.
