Harbor City Hearing Solutions provides professional ear wax removal services in Melbourne, FL, and nearby locations.
Ear wax is naturally produced by the glands in the ears to lubricate the ear canals and protect them from debris and dust. Typically, ear wax clears itself from the ears, but in some cases, ear wax can accumulate and cause a blockage.
People wearing hearing aids or earmolds are more susceptible to ear wax blockage. When this happens, professional ear wax removal is recommended.
If you have been searching for somewhere to get your ears cleaned properly, this page explains what a professional ear cleaning appointment involves, why the drugstore and internet methods so often fall short, and how to tell when a blockage needs a hearing care provider rather than another few days of drops.
How Do You Know If You Have Too Much Ear Wax?
Ear wax buildup may manifest itself through the following symptoms:
- Sudden or partial hearing loss
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Feeling of fullness in the ear
- Discomfort or pain in the ear
Ear wax removal is highly important because if left unremoved, it could lead to infection and other complications.
Keep in mind that earaches, dizziness, or hearing loss may also be triggered by another underlying condition.
See an audiologist if the symptoms are increasing in frequency so that you can get a full medical evaluation to determine if the problem is merely due to excessive earwax or another health issue.
Harbor City Hearing connects you to an expert audiologist in Melbourne, FL.
One symptom deserves a special mention. If your hearing dropped suddenly and one ear feels plugged, wax is a common and very fixable cause. It is not the only cause. That is why an ear cleaning appointment with a hearing care provider starts with looking in the ear rather than reaching for a tool.
Why Does Ear wax Vary in Color and Texture?
Generally, the color of ear wax varies with its age. New or “fresh” ear wax tends to be lighter in color, and darkens as it ages and gathers up more dirt and debris.
The texture, color, and amount of ear wax vary from person to person.
This matters more than it sounds. Softer, newer wax often clears on its own or with a few days of softening drops. Older wax that has hardened against the eardrum behaves very differently, and it is the type that at-home kits struggle with most. Two people with the same symptoms can need two completely different appointments.
DIY Ear wax Removal
There are various at-home ear wax removal kits available, question is – are they safe and effective?
Ear wax removal kits can be purchased over-the-counter in most drug stores and retail stores. Generally, these kits come with a liquid that helps soften ear wax and a small rubber bulb syringe.
The kits come with instructions on how much and how often the liquid needs to be applied to the ear canals. Bubbling or fizzing sensations are to be expected.
It may take several days to remove ear wax from the ear using at-home ear wax removal kits. There are also contraindications to using DIY ear wax removal kits, especially for people with existing ear conditions.
It is highly recommended to speak with an audiologist or hearing care provider before attempting DIY earwax removal.
Stop using a kit and book an appointment if the ear becomes painful, if there is drainage or bleeding, if hearing drops further, or if several days of use have changed nothing.
Ear Wax Removal Methods To Avoid
Most people use Q-tips or cotton swabs in an attempt to clean ears, remove earwax, or loosen a blockage. As audiologists, we strongly discourage using cotton swabs to get rid of wax because it may push the dirt further down the ear canal, risking more damage to the ears.
Cotton swabs should only be used to clean the outer area of the ear. Never insert cotton swabs or any other pointed objects into the ear canal to avoid injuring the inner ear or puncturing your eardrum. If you want the detail, our guide on how to clean outer ears safely covers what to do instead.
Ear candling is a method to avoid entirely. It does not create suction that draws wax out, and it introduces an open flame and hot wax next to the ear canal.
Rinsing at home with a bulb syringe carries a different risk. Water pushed into an ear with a perforated eardrum, a tube, or an active infection can cause real harm, and there is no way to rule any of those out without looking in the ear first.
Even when nothing goes wrong, at-home methods are guesswork. You cannot see whether the wax has moved, whether it is nearly clear, or whether the blockage was ever wax to begin with. A professional appointment replaces the guessing with a look.
How Does An Audiologist Clean Ears?
Harbor City Hearing Solutions uses the Earigator for professional ear cleaning and ear wax removal. The Earigator seamlessly combines the functions of irrigation and an otoscope into one, providing one of the world’s most advanced cerumen control.
The Earigator allows us to safely and efficiently remove even the most stubborn ear wax.
Unlike traditional ear wax removal methods, the Earigator allows self-contained temperature control to regulate the water to the body temperature, eliminating the risk of caloric or vertigo side effects.
The Earigator has precise pressure controls to quickly remove deeply-impacted cerumen without endangering the eardrum.
Professional Ear Cleaning: What Happens at Your Appointment
Professional ear cleaning is a short, routine appointment. Here is the shape of it, so nothing is a surprise.
First, we talk. You will be asked how long the ear has felt blocked, whether hearing has changed, whether there is pain, drainage, ringing, or dizziness, and whether you have had ear surgery, a perforated eardrum, or tubes. This history decides what is safe to do next.
Second, we look. Your provider examines the ear canal and eardrum with a lighted scope. This confirms whether wax is actually the problem, how much there is, how far in it sits, and whether the eardrum is healthy. Plenty of people arrive certain it is wax and leave with a different answer, which is exactly why the look comes before the cleaning.
Third, the wax is removed. A hearing care provider removes wax under direct view, working with the ear canal rather than pushing against it. Removal is done gently and in stages, and it stops if the ear is tender or if the eardrum needs to be seen by a physician first.
Fourth, we check the ear again. Your provider looks once more to confirm the canal is clear and the eardrum looks healthy. Many people notice their hearing is clearer immediately.
Finally, you get advice for your ears specifically. If you produce wax quickly, wear hearing aids, use earplugs at work, or have narrow ear canals, your provider can tell you roughly how often to come back and what to do at home in between.
If a hearing loss is still there once the wax is gone, that is useful information rather than a disappointment. It means the blockage was masking something, and the next step is a hearing test rather than another cleaning.
Ear Cleaning for Hearing Aid and Earmold Wearers
If you wear hearing aids or earmolds, ear cleaning is maintenance rather than a one-off. A device sitting in the canal all day slows the ear’s natural process of clearing wax outward, so wax builds up faster than it otherwise would. It also finds its way into receivers, vents and wax guards.
The usual signs are familiar to most wearers: the aid sounds weak or dead, it whistles when it did not before, or one ear sounds duller than the other. Often the ear and the device both need attention, and both can be handled in the same visit.
When to See an Audiologist
Book a professional ear cleaning if your ear feels blocked for more than a few days, if hearing has dropped, if there is ringing or a feeling of pressure, or if at-home softening drops have not worked. Come in sooner, rather than trying anything at home first, if you have ear pain, drainage, a known perforated eardrum, ear tubes, or a history of ear surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my ears cleaned professionally?
Call Harbor City Hearing Solutions at 321-622-6385 or use the Schedule An Appointment link on this site to book an ear cleaning appointment. Your provider reviews your ear history, examines the ear canal and eardrum with a lighted scope, removes the wax under direct view, then checks the ear again to confirm it is clear. It is a short appointment and most people notice clearer hearing right away.
Is professional ear cleaning safe?
It is safe because it is done under direct view by a hearing care provider who looks in the ear first. That examination is what makes it different from cleaning at home. It rules out a perforated eardrum, an infection or another cause before anything touches the ear, and the provider can see exactly what they are removing. Tell your provider about any ear surgery, tubes, perforation, pain or drainage, and removal is adjusted or referred on accordingly.
Does ear wax removal hurt?
It should not. You may feel pressure, movement or a cool sensation, and sound can seem suddenly loud once the canal clears. Tell your provider if anything is uncomfortable and they will stop and adjust.
How often should I get my ears cleaned?
There is no single answer, because wax production varies a lot from person to person. Some people never need it. Others, particularly hearing aid wearers and people with narrow canals, benefit from a regular schedule. Your provider will suggest an interval based on what they see in your ears.
Can ear wax cause hearing loss?
Yes. A full blockage can noticeably reduce hearing, and it usually returns as soon as the wax is removed. If hearing is still reduced after a cleaning, the next step is a hearing test to find out what else is going on.
What should I do at home between appointments?
Leave the ear canal alone. Clean only the outer ear with a cloth, and skip cotton swabs and ear candles. If your provider recommends softening drops for your ears specifically, follow their instructions.
Harbor City Hearing Solutions: Ear Wax Removal in Melbourne, FL
When it comes to ear wax removal and ear cleaning, it’s best to go with the professionals.
Our Melbourne, FL, audiologist is trained to perform professional ear wax removal services to ensure that your hearing is always at its prime. We also provide hearing tests and hearing aids in Melbourne, FL to ensure that all your hearing care needs are covered.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!