Ds (4) ear blocked with wax

[WreckTangled]

Ds has been having trouble hearing and it's got worse. Took him to the dr and he said one of his ears was quite waxy and to use olive oil drops. We did that and have been four 3/4 weeks. He said to come back and see him if it didn't get better in that time.

Today we went back and it's still completely blocked, dr said to carry on with the drops but I'm wondering if I should use different drops or something as the olive oil clearly hasn't made any difference at all.

Grateful for any advice

[WreckTangled]

We never use cotton buds either.

[LemonadeAndSchnapps]

I get these constantly. My doctor always said I have a short ear canal, as if it was something I should be very pleased about! when you put the drops in, are you getting him to lay on his side, or sit with his head on his shoulder so the oil has time to really get into the eat wax?

[WreckTangled]

Thanks lemonade. Yes I am,
For as long as he will anyway! It's £50 for private microsuction and I'm really tempted... I feel sorry for him not being able to hear properly

[Megatherium]

You can get bicarbonate of soda ear drops, no idea whether they're more effective.

[LemonadeAndSchnapps]

Try not to go for something like that because they can sometimes give you tinnitus. But 4 weeks is a very very long time and I would be wanting to do something about it at that point if it were me

[SirNiallDementia]

Olive oil did nothing to help with my kids ear wax build up.

Drops like earex/ otex (or something like that!) helped with DS2 but with DS1 they didn't and the GP syringed his ears in the end (age 4) as he couldn't hear what was going on at school.

[RoganJosh]

I'm pretty sure the wax Hopi candles produce appears from the candles themselves, when nowhere near an ear.

[WreckTangled]

The GP said they won't syringe below age 16 (presumably without being referred to ent) but I also know that there is no longer any funding in our PCT for ear syringing.

Thanks. I will try with the bicarb drops for a week then maybe something else? We're going on a long haul flight in a few weeks and I'm worried it might be painful for him!

[RoganJosh]

Here's the wiki entry for Hopi candles
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_candling

[SirNiallDementia]

I was advised by my Dr not to use Hopi candles on the kids as there are risks and it's not particularly effective.

[empirerecordsrocked]

We are having a nightmare with this at the minute with dts. Been using bicarbonate drops and big chunks full out on a weekly basis - boke - but they get blocked again nearly straight away. Am also pushing for syringing but gp says no. They shout all the time because they can't bloody hear.

[Scootergrrrl]

I've used an Acu Life ear wax remover (I think that's the proper name for it) when one of my ears was firmly blocked. It was amazing! It's a special squirty syringe which you use to fire warm water up into your ear drum.
At first it looks like nothing is happening then all of a sudden, lumps of wax you would not believe possible come out. I'm almost looking forward to one of my ears becoming blocked again just for the sporn value of seeing what comes out.

[WreckTangled]

Interesting. As far as I'm aware syringing is no longer recommended for anyone, especially younger people, due to the risk of perforation and it's microsuction all the way.

I'm definitely going to get the bicarb drops. Ds shouts all the time too and constantly shouts 'pardon??!!' 'Huh?!?!' Drives me mad

[RoganJosh]

When I've had my ears 'syringed' it's actually been irrigation but they still refer to it as syringing.

[WreckTangled]

Yes I think irrigation and syringing is the same and then microsuction is the newer thing

[RandomMess]

I paid for DD to have microsuction in the end, was fab and it's never come back 3 years on. Would pay again as the plug at the end I don't think would have come out for months and months just with drops!

[Islagiatt]

my now 10year old DS has had his ears syringed about 3 times now due to the build up of wax which makes him all but deaf. The last time the nurse said that he should be referred to ENT specialist for the suction if it happens again. We are currently doing the warm olive oil thing but for some reason he just seems to get blocked ears. DS is very anxious and does not want 'his ears sucked out'. The syringing/irrigating has been done very gently and just is warm water sluicing through his ears. And they hold a cup underneath to catch the stuff that comes out which has been quite astonishing in volume, but made me throw up when I looked at it. So next step is referral, but assuming a long waiting list and he's deaf now. and shouting now. hmm.

[PurpleDaisies]

Hopi ear candles are absolutely not appropriate treatment for ear wax issues, especially not in children. This article nicely explains why...
www.audiology.org/news/ear-candles-and-candling-ineffective-and-dangerous

[Astro55]

Try olbas oil in boiling water in their room - fill the rooms before bed

Use for 3/4 nights and you'll really see a difference

(Dc with block glue ear)

Works wonders for colds as well

[WreckTangled]

Astro he currently has a Vicks vapour plug in in each night which really helps his cough but unfortunately hasn't helped his ears! Your way seems much cheaper though so will give it a go

Thanks for your answers everyone I feel less stressed about it all now

[Astro55]

Be warned! Resulting mess was amazing! Poor lamb had it all over his face which was stuck to the pillow- wouldn't use anything else