Ear Wax Removal
Most people never need their ears cleaned. Wax is made on purpose — it keeps the canal slightly acidic, traps dust and stops the skin drying out — and the ear moves it outwards on its own as the skin of the canal slowly migrates towards the opening. The trouble starts when that self-cleaning system is interrupted, usually by the very thing people reach for to help: a cotton bud pushes more wax inwards than it brings out, and packs what is left deeper against the eardrum where it hardens.
Once a plug forms, the symptoms are hard to ignore. Hearing drops on that side, often quite suddenly after a shower when water swells the wax; the ear feels full, sometimes uncomfortable; and some people notice a ringing or their own voice sounding strange. Hearing-aid users tend to notice it earlier than anyone else, because a whistling aid is often the first sign that the canal has narrowed.
At Abhinav’s ENT Care Center in Hastinapuram, removal is done under direct vision rather than blind. The canal and eardrum are examined first with an oto-endoscope so the wax and the eardrum behind it can be seen before anything is touched. Micro-suction is then used to lift the wax out under magnification, with no water put into the ear, and fine instruments are used alongside it where suction cannot reach. In many cases the ear is clear by the end of the appointment, though very hard wax may need softening drops for a few days first and a second visit to finish the job.
Being able to see the canal throughout is what makes the difference, and it is the reason this approach suits ears that should never be flushed: a perforated eardrum, grommets, previous ear surgery, or an ear that has discharged in the past. It also means the eardrum itself gets a proper look once the wax is out, which occasionally matters more than the wax did. A blocked ear is sometimes the reason someone finally comes in, and something else is what turns up behind it.
One thing is worth separating from all of the above. Hearing that disappears suddenly in one ear is not a wax problem until it has been examined, and it should be seen the same day rather than waited out with drops. It is far better to be told it was only wax than to leave something that needed treating quickly.
Common Symptoms
- A blocked or full feeling in one or both ears
- Hearing that has gone muffled or quieter
- Earache or a sense of pressure
- Ringing or buzzing that started when the ear blocked
- Itching in the ear canal
- Hearing aids whistling or no longer sitting comfortably
How We Help
- Oto-endoscopic examination of the canal and eardrum before anything is removed
- Micro-suction wax removal under magnification, with no water used
- Removal with fine instruments where suction alone cannot reach
- Softening drops advised first when wax is hard or firmly stuck
- The eardrum re-checked once the canal is clear
- Advice on keeping ears clear without cotton buds or ear picks
When to See a Doctor
Have the ear looked at rather than treated at home if there is pain, discharge or bleeding, if you know or suspect a perforated eardrum, if you have had ear surgery or have grommets, if the affected ear is your only hearing ear, or if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system. Sudden loss of hearing in one ear needs assessment the same day and should never be assumed to be wax.
Frequently Asked Questions
Meet Your ENT Specialist
Dr. G Abhinav Kumar Reddy
MBBS, MS (ENT) — ENT Specialist
