Ear Wax and Hearing Aids

For starter’s the production of earwax at any age is normal.  Earwax (the medical term for earwax is cerumen) is a protective product made by glands in the skin of the ear canal.

Earwax serves as a self-cleaning agent with protective, lubricating, and even bacterial properties.  Glands in the outer part of the ear canal produce the waxy substance, and it moves outward to the ear canal opening in a slow, orderly migration.  The wax often simply falls out of its own accord. If it builds up it can block the ear canal and cause problems with your hearing or hearing aid.

You can’t stop wax from forming.  Try not to clean your ears with Q-tips or anything else that is pushed into your ear as this will push the wax back into the ear canal and could damage your ear.  We’ll advise you if your earwax needs to be removed.  If it does we’ll also recommend the best course of action for the removal of the wax.

Obviously, the normal progression of earwax outward can be slowed down by hearing aids, especially if the amount is excessive.  This is true even with behind-the-ear style hearing aids.  One of the primary reasons for hearing aid repairs is earwax.  Some hearing instruments can be ordered with a type of wax filter that can minimize the amount of earwax that enters the hearing. Your hearing aid may also come with a tiny wax spring can be inserted in the end of the sound bore.  This can help to minimize repairs due to excessive earwax.

This will depend upon the type of hearing aid that you have. We’ll provide you with cleaning instructions specific to your make and model of hearing aid. Instruction books also come with your hearing aids and should provide detailed information about how to clean your hearing aid.