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General health

ear wax problems

12 replies

HayleyWayley · 09/08/2007 20:55

anyone got advice how to get rid of ear wax? i seem to have alot of it and its afectin my hearing

thanks xxxxxxxxxx

OP posts:
Frizbe · 09/08/2007 20:55

olive oil

Beauregard · 09/08/2007 20:57

Warm olive oil in your ears will soften the wax.
Not sure but i think that Hopi candle therapy can flush it out ,failing that then you need to have them syringed at the doctors.

BadKitten · 09/08/2007 21:52

I third the olive oil. you can get little empty dropper bottles from the chemist to make it easy to insert. Takes several days to work though. I've tried hydrogen peroxide (used the plain stuff you get for contact lenses) but really the only result I got was an interesting fizzing noise. Googles a link for you:
www.doctorhoffman.com/wax.htm

Pruners · 09/08/2007 21:54

Message withdrawn

berolina · 09/08/2007 22:04

I seem to produce lots of ear wax, and go to the doctor to get them syringed every year or so (basically when it starts affectign my hearing). have never found any other remedies really helpful.

HayleyWayley · 10/08/2007 12:15

ok thanks girls, i have olive oil in a bottle and its called earol...lol thought that was a funny name..its in a squirty bottle! so might try that thanks everyone! xxxx

OP posts:
HayleyWayley · 10/08/2007 13:11

also i thought id add that its since gettin my ears syringed when i was 17 that i have had this problem thats why i dont really want it done again! ;( im hoping drops work!

OP posts:
neva · 15/08/2007 20:49

Hi. When my ears were blocked unfortunately olive oil did nothing and syringing didn't work. In the end I had my ears 'microsuctioned' which was quick and painless and worked well.

Desiderata · 15/08/2007 20:53

I'm reading this thread with interest, hayley. My ds has the most appalling earwax (since birth). His voice is so loud, I'm beginning to wonder whether it's affecting his hearing, but the health professionals just pass it off as nothing serious, (which I know it isn't in the great scheme of things), without giving any solutions.

foxinsocks · 15/08/2007 20:56

Desi - don't let them fob you off if you think it's something more.

They fobbed us off (with dd) for almost a year until we caved in and paid privately for her to have a hearing test and to see an ENT.

She had very hard impacted wax in her ears and it was masking a glue ear problem (the doctors 'only' saw the wax so assumed once that had cleared she'd be OK). She had moderate to severe hearing loss in one ear!

As neva had done, they sucked the wax out of her ear with a little hoover thing. It was fabulous and made a big difference (and then we have just waited for the glue ear to clear because she's quite old).

If you think it is affecting his hearing, PUSH for a test.

Desiderata · 16/08/2007 11:46

Thanks, fox. That's really good advice. I know that DH's eldest son had glue-ear as a child.

I did insist on getting it checked a year ago and the Dr assured me that it hadn't gone further than the outer chamber (ie., there was no impaction), but even so, the level of ear wax he produces is incredible.

His father's got a very loud voice, so it could just be hereditary, but I think I will go back in light of what you've said.

Cheers mate!

MQ · 06/09/2007 09:15

Hi Guys
Safest way to remove ear wax is through a method called suction. if your GP (normal doctor) doesnt do this (many use the syringe method which isnt the safest) then an ENT, Ear Nurse Specialist or Audiologist should.
And yes compacted ear wax can have an effect on your hearing.
If anyone reading this lives in Wellington, New Zealand, there is a FREE hearing expo on at the Michael Fowler Centre 28-30 September about everything to do with hearing - especially children's hearing. They are offering free hearing tests and, yes, free ear wax removal! All with no obligation to have a follow up appointment, its a public health awareness thing.

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