Cerumen Management
Although ear wax production is natural, hearing aid users are far more susceptible to wax buildup than others. Each time a hearing aid is inserted it will push the wax in as it enters, leaving a residual ridge at the end of the hearing aid. Over time this can build up and block the ear canal or fill the sound tube of the hearing aid. Both of these lead to reduced hearing acuity.
Our Audiologists and Hearing Instrument Specialists who are certified in wax management have access to several different systems of cleaning your ear depending on the type of wax and the location in your ear canal. The systems that we use are suction, curettes and flushing with water.
To make it easier to remove ear wax it helps to put a few drops of mineral oil in your ear canals several days prior to your appointment. The wax absorbs the oil, helping to soften it. For hearing aid wearers, it is best to put the oil in after you are done wearing your hearing aid for the day so that you don’t get oil inside the sound tube.
