This throws up a popular question; how do audiologists perform ear cleaning? Well, they have access to different tools which allow them to try various methods. Here’s what they do for you:

Ear examination

If you go to an audiologist for ear cleaning, then the process starts with an extensive examination of your ears. This is to see how bad your earwax situation is and assess what method might be most effective for you.

Softening drops

In some cases, your audiologist will prescribe you softening drops to apply at home. They give you some while you’re there, and show you how to use them. After a few days, they call you back in to see how things have gone. If your earwax problem is minor, this may be all you need to clean your ears. However, in a lot of cases, these drops are merely used to soften the hard wax and make it easier to conduct other ear cleaning methods.

How Do Audiologists Perform Ear Cleaning?

Manual removal using a cerumen spoon

A cerumen spoon is a tiny tool with a long handle that gets inserted into your ear canal. Your audiologist will essentially use this instrument to scoop out the wax that’s been sitting in your ear. By softening it beforehand, the wax becomes much easier to remove using this manual method. It’s pain-free, but there may be some slight irritation that goes away following the treatment.

Pressurized water irrigation

In more severe cases, manual removal won’t work. So, your audiologist may choose to use the irrigation method. This involves using a syringe that sends pressurized water into your ear canal. The aim is to force the wax out of your ears, where it is caught in a small bowl they place below it. This isn’t the most comfortable method, which is why audiologists try to avoid it wherever possible.

Ear vacuuming

This is possibly the best method of ear cleaning that an audiologist can offer. It’s great at getting rid of stubborn earwax, and the concept is very straightforward. They insert a tiny tube into your ear which sucks out the impacted wax. It’s considered to be the most painless method and is highly effective at getting rid of excess earwax.

If you need professional ear cleaning, then you’ll most likely undergo one of these treatments. It all depends on your personal situation. The audiologist will carry out their initial exam and could prescribe ear drops to help soften things up. Then, it’s a case of figuring out which technique will work best for your particular earwax problem. One thing’s for sure; all methods are proven to work and can provide more effective cleaning than you’re able to manage at home.

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If you want to protect your ears and reduce the potential of having your ears damaged, then you may want to visit your audiologist to have your ears cleaned by a professional. Consider the following 3 Reasons to Have Your Ears Professionally Cleaned with visiting an audiologist for a hearing examination.

1. You’ll get a proper clean that won’t damage your hearing

One of the best advantages of having your ears cleaned professionally is that it doesn’t damage the inside of your ear. Some people use cotton swabs that push the earwax back into their ears while others use picks that scratch against the inner lining of the ear. Some people even poke their ears with things like toothpicks in order to get the wax out. These can all be incredibly harmful to your ear, and the proper way to clean your ears is with professional tools that your audiologist is an expert with.

2. Impacted earwax can cause major and minor symptoms

You can’t see what’s going on in your ear canal so it’s difficult to get them cleaned properly. This can eventually lead to impacted earwax. Impaction occurs when the earwax bunches together, hardens and becomes difficult to remove. It lodges itself in your ear canal and can cause major and minor problems. If you experience minor symptoms such as a damp ear, popping noises, mild hearing loss or a feeling that your ears are clogged, then it’s a good idea to visit your audiologist for some advice and potentially an ear-cleaning appointment.

However, if you experience fever, difficulty sleeping and a loss of appetite after trying to clean your ears, then you might put yourself at risk of future infections, dizziness and even tinnitus. Make sure you clean your ears properly if you experience these symptoms. This is especially important if you use cotton swabs on a regular basis or a pick to scrape out the earwax.

3. You get impacted earwax far too regularly

Most people don’t get impacted earwax if they take good care of their ears. However, once you start to neglect cleaning your ears properly, you’ll start to experience impacted earwax on a far more frequent basis. This can be incredibly frustrating especially as you grow older. The older we are, the harder it becomes for our bodies to automatically eject earwax out far enough that it naturally falls away. A professional audiologist will clean your ears all the way the way through to ensure that your ear stays healthy while also preventing your ears from building up more wax in the future.

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