Best Methods For an All Too Common Ear Problem
I’ve got this problem with my ears. Over the past couple of years, I have noticed times where my hearing is slightly impaired. Also, I have experienced what seems like tinnitus — that annoying ringing that never seems to go away. Is there something going on with my hearing? Might I be acquiring some type of hearing loss at a relatively young age even though I don’t regularly operate heavy machinery. Nor have I ever attended a live rock music concert.
Turns out I am experiencing the common problem of impaction. This is where an excess of that horrible earwax builds up in the ear, impacting hearing and leading to possible aggravations like that slight ringing sound or fullness in the ear. This sort of thing has not been fun at all. When this has happened over the past few years — either occuring solely in one ear or then happening in both at once — I’ve resorted to purchasing multiple over the counter remedies while also self-administering intensive hearing tests. (I don’t know if covering my non-impacted ear to see how much I can hear is a valid audio-test, but it does the trick most of the time).
I suspect much of it has to do with my job, where I have to wear a headset and take inbound calls 8 hours a day. Somehow, does this push wax back a little farther? I would also guess that perhaps my system produces a little more wax than most. That would seem to be the most simple conclusion logically when resources say the ears normally clean out the earwax themselves:
Earwax, or cerumen, is a self-cleaning agent your body produces. It collects dirt, bacteria, and other debris. Usually, the wax works its way out of the ears naturally through chewing and other jaw motions.
The other logical conclusions here might include that my ears collect more dirt and debris than most(as if I don’t wash regularly) or perhaps I don’t move my jaw normally like most. Naw, I move my jaw plenty because I do plenty of talking at my job and in daily talks I deliver to air while in solitude. I still think I am a natural ear wax overproducer.
Ear impaction seems to be one of those common left-field kind of issues for medical practitioners — stemming somewhere beyond the expertise of general doctors but not quite landing in the realm of specialized problems some ENT doctor or audiologist would tackle. For my past three annual physicals, my doctors have been quick to point out my buildup of wax residue. This is somewhat embarrassing, especially when one doctor exclaimed “you must have trouble cleaning your ears?” (But see, if my ears were aligned with the norm they would clean themselves!).
And just like so many other medical problems, each medical expert seems to have their own strategy for dealing with this ear wax conundrum.
“There is this special type of over-the-counter ear cleaning solution. You should be able to get it at the pharmacy.”
“You should never use Q-tips as they push much of the wax farther back.”
“You should rinse your ear with a solution or warm water, and let the cleaner drain out rather than wiping it with a cloth.”
Okay, these are all great tips and tricks. Similar to countless other topics, they are all piecemeal insights that each illuminate certain aspects of the larger reality while missing other parts. But it is still up to me to find the best solution for my unique set of ears. And who could have ever imagined this would be so difficult?
What are some methods for dealing with clogged ears? There’s the trick of plugging your nose and mouth and blowing air. This can cause the ears to “pop.” Or you can chew gum for the same impact. However, these methods seem to be mainly for pressure or sinus buildup. Another method is to use a warm compress behind the ear. I tried all of these numerous times, and they helped to some extent.
Soon, we seem to run back to the most common sense method that paradoxically requires hard work and extra caution. You have to find a way to clean out those ears. It turns out there is a whole market for safe ear wax removal that does not require bulky cotton swabs or other remedies doctors warn against. You can buy an ear irrigation system online or find specialty cleaning tips at your local store. I found some top-quality brands of ear wax cleaners — plastic Q-tip sized rods with a specialty designed plastic scooper to clear out all of that extra buildup. Before using these, if I apply a few drops of ear cleaning fluids or ear drops and allow the liquid to flush out dried wax it makes it a lot easier to clean out.
Any cleaning requires extra caution. Ear drums and other inner ear parts are prone to damage. Usually any specialty-designed products offer directions and warnings not to push too far back in the ear and to consult a medical doctor if additional problems arise. And that is the best option of all if ear problems get worse — consult a medical professional. General practictioners can help with examinations and make referrals to a specialist if needed. Although I am thankful that home remedies have helped improve my ear issues, sometimes these can be the result of a more serious condition.
