Ear wax removal

[Whatadayyyy]

Does anyone have any ear wax removal tips? My DC aged 7 has wax build up and can’t hear out one ear. Been to doctors twice since start of January and they keep giving drops which have been useless, they say they won’t syringe kids under 16. I am desperate, any wax removal tips?

Please don’t stick anything like this in your ears , it can cause damage to the drum. Any audiologist will tell you the smallest thing you should put in your ear is your elbow.

The fact that they've removed ear wax removal from the NHS shows it's not cared about.

Even when my ear wax was preventing me from getting a new hearing aid (they literally couldn't fit it till my wax had been removed) the doctor I spoke to at my GP refused to refer me to ENT.
Even though she said they could only do it as a necessity (how was my case not a necessity?)
Thankfully I was under audiology anyway and they referred me to ENT.
I disagree with them removing ear wax removal from the NHS so much.

I'm very fortunate to have regular treatment for this under the NHS

My ears get blocked very easily

Some ear removal places will do under 18s.

I had 7 months' worth of ear infections with 10 types of antibiotics before I was referred to an ENT and got my ear micro-suctioned.

I had paid for having it done twice myself already I also had a fungal infection they kept insisting on treating and not doing the suction.

I roughly need it done once a year now to keep on top of it. In my cause its dry skin that doesn't come out of a narrow earcanal

Which drops do you use? Recommendations are always good! I was told otex turned my wax into glue and I shouldn't have used it. Other people swear by it.

Audiology always just tell me to use olive oil

I’ve tried olive oil and currently using otex twice a day with no success. It’s so frustrating, especially them not being able to hear which is not ideal in school. It gives pain too tho not constantly.

Audiology but I remember when I was little I went to an ENT for this and the ENT just took it out there and then

It won't always work no which is when you need to get the wax removed

Google audiologists in your area to see if they will do it.

Sodium bicarbonate drops, any kind and warm baths or insist on an ENT referal. These worked for my 6 year old. ENT could well be 12-16 weeks but at least you'll be in the system in case drops don't kick in ENT will use micro suction if appropriate xx

My DS had exactly the same problem! We managed to get it out by using the drops daily combined with warm baths where he swished his head side to side gently in the water.

after a few weeks of that one day I used my had to create a bit of a current of water in the bath near his ear and the blockage literally washed out!

after that I’ve been careful to make sure he gets his head wet - swimming and baths. He hates washing his hair with a passion so it’s not always easy but hopefully it will stop it building up again!

We've been through this recently - our 6yo was really struggling at school because he simply couldn't hear; nurse at GPs said oh yes his left ear is totally blocked and right one is 90% gone. Use olive oil for two weeks. Went back in two weeks - keep using it. Oh btw we don't syringe so you'll need a referral.

Six weeks in, I thought this is daft so we phoned a local clinic and they said they don't normally do children but will try - they mircrosuctioned both ears, he behaved perfectly, and could hear! One of them has gone again so we have decided to ask for a referral in case anything is causing an issue. Hospital have said under 8s need audiology clinic, not straight to mircrosuctioning. Still waiting for the appointment...

Just olive oil. If you can fill the kids ear to the brim when they lay on their side. Really massage the outside of the ear. You get air bubbles come up so I knew it had got behind the wax. Lay them down for a bit ideally five minutes. Then mop up the excess oil and put some cotton wool in their outer ear to catch the rest of the oil. The kids moaned. A lot. If you do it everyday for a week it eventually dislodged if your lucky. We had a ginormous blob float up like the Mary Rose. It was amazing how it fitted in his ear.

Our GP referred my DD for micro suction about 18 months ago on the NHS after her both her ears completely blocked up, she used ear drops for 6 months before hand and they did absolutely nothing, the wait was 5 months so we ended up paying privately.
It took ages to find someone who would do it because she was on 15 but I found an NHS nurse who ran a private clinic and she was brilliant.

I love my ear camera but I wouldn't use it on children. My ears are as clean as a whistle. I got a massive black piece of wax out and it was grossly satisfying.

Spec savers don't do anyone under the age of 18. I tried every private company in my area all refused under 18. I tried to go private with Spire. They wanted £400 for a consultation then the procedure. I went back and said it was impacting her hearing education etc. referred her to hospital, on a six month waiting list and was finally seen.

For us though it's back again. I think maybe the only option now is spire which is completely ridiculous.

You can buy ear syringes and they do work. Possibly not the best idea.

I saw an ENT specialist quarterly last year as I had dermatitis in my inner ear. Part of my home treatment was to use a very mild solution of hydrogen peroxide from a dropper. Just lie down and let it fizz in the ear as it breaks down, then hold a flannel as you sit up/turn over to catch the residue.

That's exactly the advice my ENT doctor gave me!

GPs don't do this anymore

There is Earol which is basically olive oil available at the chemist which comes with a dropper.

Last week I had micro suction. It felt a bit weird but didn't hurt at all and I am a baby. You have to put oil in your ears before

My dad is just off the phone asking me to get him hydrogen peroxide from the chemist. He has chronic ear blockages. I've never tried it myself but he swears by it.

But the ear symptoms caused by diving have nothing to do with wax - that's a completely different issue.