5 Facts About Earwax

Earwax, also known as cerumen, typically doesn’t pose any serious threat to your hearing abilities. Overlooking it for a lengthy amount of time can affect your memory and general health, mainly for those who wear hearing aids. Here are five earwax facts:

1. Your IQ is Contingent upon how much Earwax You have in Your Ears

“Can you list today’s date, month and year?”

This is a real question for the Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE)

The question the may seem simple, but that might not be the case if there’s too much earwax in your ears. According to a study from 2002, those who were over the age of 65 and had their ears plugged with wax discovered that extracting the earwax increased their total MMSE scores, whereas not removing it made it difficult to answer simple questions and follow basic directions. 

2. Hairy Ears

Accumulating an excessive amount of earwax is typically caused by having too much hair in your ears, or wearing hearing aids. Cleaning your ears out with a cotton swab pushes cerumen farther in the canal. This can cause the earwax to become impacted, or you may puncture the eardrum.  

3. Earwax Blocks Bacteria

A limited amount of earwax can be beneficial to you. Cells on the external part of your ear canal produce earwax in order to shield the area from ear infections. Studies have discovered that earwax can destroy bacteria such as E. Coli, Staph infections and H. Influenzae.  

4. Got Chapped Lips?

If your lips are dry and chapped, you can smear earwax on them. This was the original lip balm. Earwax can relieve burning, itching, and stop a wound from forming. These are the main uses for common lip balms purchased in stores. 

5. Ethnic Origins 

The consistency of your earwax depends on your ethnic origin. A Nature Genetics study from 2006 circulated in the news when they found that East Asians have a genetic mutation that causes them to produce dry earwax. Analysts concluded that the gene mutation could be due to an adaptation to colder Asian climates that reduce the amount of sweat produced. The study discovered that those of African or European descent produce wet and sticky earwax. 

Safe and proper cleanings are necessary to prevent the buildup of earwax, but it’s also best to leave some in your ears. Do not clean your ears everyday, and simply cleaning your outer ear with warm water should be helpful. If you wear hearing aids, make it a routine to clean them yourself or get them cleaned by a professional for a deeper clean.

If you, or a loved one, have hearing aids that need a professional cleaning, contact us at Pure Sound Hearing Aids.       

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