Earwax Removal

A hearing service you may not have considered needing is professional cerumen (earwax) removal. Normally, our ears will naturally drain out excess cerumen, but sometimes, that natural process can become blocked, allowing earwax to build up. This earwax buildup can reach a point where you need professional intervention to safely remove it.

Here at Hearing Associates of Las Vegas, we offer a full array of hearing services, ranging from in-depth hearing evaluations to professional cerumen removal. If you aren’t sure that your earwax buildup has reached a point where you need intervention, we will go over the signs, what you can do at home to relieve the blockage, when to come in for help, and more.

Signs Of Earwax Blockage

It is not uncommon to have earwax buildup somewhat, but normally, it naturally regulates and doesn’t impact your daily life. However, if you are concerned that something has impeded the natural draining of your earwax, here are some signs you can look for to see if you have a cerumen blockage.

• Painful pressure in your ear without any clear outside source.
• Difficulty hearing clearly, either with sounds becoming distorted or too soft.
• Earache that is not alleviated with rest or painkillers.
• Tinnitus that does not go away with rest and de-stressing.

If you are suffering from one or more of these symptoms, you can come and work with our hearing health care specialists to have your earwax buildup resolved. They can either provide you with an at-home removal option or in-clinic cerumen removal options.

How To Remove Earwax At Home

Using an approved over-the-counter kit is the safest way to remove built-up earwax at home. These kits are available in most pharmacies, and even smaller grocery store pharmacies or you can visit our hearing clinic to pick one up.

These earwax removal kits come with directions on how to properly utilize them. Often, they will require you to place a few drops in the ear and allow for the solution to sit and soften the wax. Once the cerumen has been softened, it should drain out naturally, resolving the blockage.

Be sure that you don’t attempt to insert objects in your ear to try and scrape out the wax. Not only can this cause the cerumen to become compacted, but you also run the risk of puncturing your eardrum with the compacted wax or item you are using for removal.

However, if your at-home removal option does not work as well as you had hoped, you can always come into our hearing clinic for professional earwax removal.

When To Have Cerumen Professionally Removed

You don’t necessarily have to wait until you have tried an over-the-counter earwax removal kit before you have your cerumen professionally removed. While our hearing health care specialists will offer the option, you can choose to have your earwax professionally removed for speedy and safe resolution.

How Hearing Professionals Remove Earwax

There are three basic ways that you can have your cerumen professionally removed. Which method is used is dependent on the severity of your earwax buildup.

Curettage – A highly common technique for removing earwax is curettage, which is where our hearing specialists uses a curette to scoop out the blockage. There is a light at the end of the curette and a magnifier so that your earwax can be safely removed.

Irrigation – Using a stronger formula than is sold over-the-counter, our hearing specialists will irrigate your ears by gently flushing the solution through the canal. That way, the cerumen will soften and drain naturally.

Suction – With a specially-designed suction machine, our hearing specialists can safely suction out stubborn earwax buildup.

Depending on the severity of your cerumen blockage, our hearing health care specialists may use all of the above methods to help alleviate the build up.

Hearing Associates Of Las Vegas Can Professionally Remove Your Earwax

If you need relief from your cerumen buildup, contact us for an appointment today. We have two convenient locations where our hearing health care staff can help you and provide you with tips to prevent earwax buildup in the future.