Hearing Assessments and Ear Wax Removal
Earwax may not look pretty, but it’s very important for inner-ear health. Packed full of protective and antibacterial properties, earwax supports one of your body’s most important senses. Normally, earwax makes its way out of ear canals in a consistent manner, but sometimes it becomes trapped and builds up, which can easily result in an earwax blockage. This might be because you have a smaller ear canal or your ear slopes downwards, but in other cases it’s caused by wearing earphones (especially the in-ear variety) or cleaning your ears with cotton buds, which can cause earwax impaction.
How can you tell if you need earwax removal? Physical examination is the best way to tell if you’ve got an earwax blockage, but you can often get a good indicator by looking out for these top warning signs:
How can you tell if you need earwax removal? Physical examination is the best way to tell if you’ve got an earwax blockage, but you can often get a good indicator by looking out for these top warning signs:
- Muffled sounds and/or partial hearing loss
- Tinnitus (ringing in your ears)
- Feeling of spatial disorientation
- Balance problems or vertigo
- Persistent earache
- Itchy ears, discharge and strange ear odours
- Chronic and unexplained coughing