Ear Wax Removal at everybody Hears

It's common to use water lavage to remove ear wax but we have found this is not the most comfortable or efficient way for the patient.  At Everybody Hears, we soak the ear wax with a softening solution for a few minutes and then use gentle micro-suction to remove the clog.

In most cases, we do not recommend going to Urgent Care for ear wax removal.  Most of these facilities are not trained to remove ear wax like the specialist is a Everybody Hears.  We are highly experienced since we perform 500+ ear wax removals a year.

We can remove most impacted ear wax with our standard procedure.  In some cases, a second visit may be required.

Ear wax (also called cerumen) is your body's natural way of protecting your ears. It traps dust, dirt, and bacteria while keeping the ear canal moisturized. Some people simply produce more ear wax than others, and that is completely normal.

Several factors can cause ear wax to build up more quickly:

• Genetics: Some people naturally produce more ear wax throughout their lives.
• Narrow or unusually shaped ear canals: Some people have ear canals that make it more difficult for wax to exit naturally.
• Age: As we get older, ear wax often becomes drier and harder, making it less likely to work its way out of the ear on its own.  Also, skin does n
• Medications: Medications that dry the body, such as certain antihistamines, decongestants, and some antidepressants, can make ear wax drier and harder. Dry, hard wax doesn't move out of the ear as easily and is more likely to become impacted.
• Aging and medications together can increase the likelihood of wax impaction because older adults naturally produce drier ear wax.
• Hearing aids and earbuds: Devices that sit in the ear canal can slow the ear's natural cleaning process and push wax deeper into the ear.

If you frequently experience blocked ears, muffled hearing, ringing in your ears, or your hearing aids become clogged with wax, it may be time for a professional ear examination and cleaning.

At Everybody Hears, we can safely remove excess ear wax using professional techniques and determine whether your symptoms are caused by wax buildup or another hearing condition. If you're someone who naturally produces a lot of ear wax, we can also recommend a routine cleaning schedule to help prevent future blockages.

Most professional ear wax removal procedures are quick and comfortable.  Some people are more sensitive in the ear canal than others. You may feel slight pressure or hear the wax being removed, but the process is generally not painful.

Most appointments take between 15 and 30 minutes, although severely impacted wax may require additional time or a follow-up visit.

Yes. Impacted ear wax can block sound from reaching the eardrum, causing temporary hearing loss. Once the blockage is removed, hearing often returns to normal unless another hearing condition is present.

As we age, our ears become less efficient at cleaning themselves. The skin lining the ear canal normally grows outward very slowly, carrying old skin cells and ear wax toward the opening of the ear where it naturally falls away.

Over time, this natural process slows down. Older skin doesn't shed (or slough off) as efficiently, and the tiny movements of the ear canal that help move wax outward become less effective. As a result, ear wax is more likely to dry out, stick to the ear canal, and build up instead of working its way out naturally.

Many older adults also wear hearing aids or earbuds, which can further slow the ear's self-cleaning process by partially blocking the ear canal. The combination of slower skin migration, drier wax, and hearing aid use makes impacted ear wax much more common with age.

If you find yourself needing frequent ear cleanings, you're not alone. Regular professional ear examinations can help prevent wax from becoming impacted and reduce symptoms such as muffled hearing, ear fullness, ringing in the ears, and hearing aid problems.