Hearing Care Blog

Ear wax (cerumen) is an organic substance produced naturally by your ears to flush away debris and prevent infections, but an excess can become problematic and even lead to permanent hearing damage. As much as possible, nature should take its course when dealing with excessive earwax; however, in certain instances an OTC product may be […]

The FDA warns against using ear candles due to their ineffectiveness and potential serious risks of injury posed by them, including burns, blockage of the ear canal by wax from the candle and perforation of an eardrum. Ear candling does not work due to the eardrum separating the middle and inner ears from the external […]

Earwax is a natural bodily secretion, but too much earwax build-up or blockage may become an issue if not managed correctly. Here are three strategies to prevent build-up: Use of a bulb-type syringe is an efficient and safe method for clearing away earwax from the ear canal, especially when performed by a healthcare provider. 1. […]

Earwax buildup in children can be common, but it’s essential that home cleaning methods don’t lead to injury or damage of their ears. Inserting any object – cotton swabs and finger tips included – into their ear canal may cause infection or perforate their eardrum, leading to infection or perforating the perforation barrier and even […]

Earwax buildup can lead to hearing loss, pain, itching, discharge and an unpleasant odor in the ears. There are at-home kits designed to safely relieve minor wax buildup issues. Removing wax involves softening it with drops or saline solution (or hydrogen peroxide), followed by tools that remove it. However, these kits can pose risks. 1. […]

Ear wax naturally migrates toward the ear canal and gradually loosens, falls out or is washed away over time. Therefore, it is best not to attempt cleaning ears yourself using cotton swabs or “self-cleaning” methods such as ear candling (inserting a hollow cone into the ear canal and lighting it). MinuteClinic health care providers use […]

Microsuction is a safe, effective, and comfortable method of extracting earwax from your ears. Commonly recommended when other treatments such as drops or medication have not worked to clear up an obstruction, the procedure takes only minutes and usually remains relatively pain-free. Process involves having an ear canal examined with either a microscope or an […]