Ear Wax Management | Audiology Ear Care

Ear Wax Management

Ear wax is a necessary function of our bodies, but can sometimes become a problem. Ear wax, clinically called cerumen (/suh - roo - muhn/), is the product of two glands in the ear canal. It is part of the ear's self-cleaning system and exists to trap foreign objects which enter the ear canal. As skin tissue is renewed in the ear canal, the older skin travels outward and takes the ear wax (along with any passengers) out of the ear with it. Eventually, the dead skin tissue falls off and out of the ear, carrying any wax out of the ear as well.

Ear Wax can sometimes become a problem when it accumulates in the ear canal. It can even accumulate to the point of plugging the canal and affecting hearing. The most common causes of ear wax accumulation are:

Regular work in dirty environments
Attempting to clean the ears and pushing wax inward
Wearing hearing aids, which can prevent the wax from travelling outward
Constant earphone use, which also keeps wax in the ear

Removing ear wax is a routine part of ear care for audiologist and Ear, Nose & Throat physicians. Your primary care provider can often remove ear wax as well. Just be sure they look in your ears afterward to confirm that the wax is removed. It can be helpful to use ear drops 1-2 times each day leading up to your appointment for ear wax removal. This helps to soften the wax and make removal easier and painless. If you have a history of outer ear infections or a perforation (hole) in your eardrum, you should speak with your physician or audiologist before using ear drops.