Everyone’s ears produce earwax - some more than others. It’s normal and healthy. The purpose of earwax is to protect your ears from bacteria, dirt, and dust particles from getting deeper into the ear canal, which may cause an infection. It moves these particles to the outer part of the ear so you can gently clean it off with a warm, damp cloth. Too much earwax buildup can become a problem, especially while wearing hearing aids.
The buildup of earwax can lead to damaged hearing aids. Loud feedback noises, muffled/poor sound quality, an uncomfortable fit, and worsened hearing may also occur. Contact your hearing instrument specialist for professional and thorough cleanings so that you can remove earwax buildup. Your hearing aid provider should have reviewed how to handle light, daily cleanings, and general maintenance practices with you during the initial hearing aid trial period. How can Hearing Aids lead to Earwax Problems? Earwax tends to build up more for hearing aid users. The devices are more likely to cause the cerumen glands located in the ears to become stimulated and create more earwax. Sometimes, hearing aids can prevent the wax from instinctively clearing itself out of the ears. A hearing healthcare provider can discuss regular cleanings with you if you frequently experience earwax buildup. Regular cleanings can lower the chances of buildup, ear infections, and additional hearing loss while keeping your hearing aids functioning. How can Earwax lead to Hearing Aid Problems? If you experience too much earwax build-up in your ears, and it doesn’t clear out on its own, your hearing aids can become damaged. The wax can obstruct sounds, making them harder to hear. The hearing aid receiver (the piece that goes in the ear canal) can become clogged. Sounds from the microphone won’t be able to transfer through. This ricochet’s the sound waves back, which creates feedback noise - the high-pitched sounds that can be painful to hear. When the vents and receivers become blocked with earwax, the hearing aids won’t be helpful. Any moisture from the earwax can also harm the hearing aid and cause battery erosion, leading to severe defects in hearing aids. Preserve Your Hearing Aids with Cleanings Nearly 60-70% of hearing aids that need professional repairs are due to damage caused by earwax buildup or other natural materials. Simply cleaning them on your own or getting a professional cleaning can save you the hassle of regularly dealing with glitches, problems, and repairs. Your hearing instrument specialist will help you select the proper cleaning kit for your hearing aids if necessary. Tools such as dry cloths, professional strength cleaning wipes, wax picks, tube and vent cleaners, and brushes will be available. Clean your hearing aids using a soft, dry cloth to wipe them down. You should be able to see most of the wax on the devices. If your hearing aids have a wax guard or filter, check and change them out regularly if dirty. The sound bore (the tip where sound releases from the hearing aid) can become obstructed with earwax or debris. Use a cleaning tool with a brush or loop to remove any debris. Hearing aid tubing can also become obstructed. Use a wax loop or air blower to extricate earwax or other debris. We’ve mentioned earlier that earwax can build up and cause too much moisture to accumulate on the hearing aids. Moisture can harm your hearing aids and lead to a corrosive battery. If this happens, inform your hearing instrument specialist and ask about a hearing aid dryer or dehumidifier. What is the Proper way to Clean Your Ears? If you need to clean out the earwax in your ears, you need to be careful. Depending on how much earwax you produce and how thick the wax is, cleaning your ears out with cotton swabs or any other small object may push the earwax deeper into the ears. It can cause a blockage which can restrict your ability to hear. Do not engage in ear candling. It's best to use a warm wet cloth to wipe off earwax that naturally releases from the ear. You may also gently wipe your ears with warm water during a shower or a bath. If you need a professional cleaning for your hearing aids, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing. Comments are closed.
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