Earwax production is a normal and natural function of our bodies. As individuals, the amount of wax produced is as individual as we are; there is no right or wrong amount of wax.  Earwax is a combination of two secretions from two glands found just within the base of the ear canal, a sweat gland and an oil gland. The colour of earwax can vary from clear to an almost black colour with the colour of tobacco being the most common.

The secretions from these two glands combine and form ear wax. Ear wax does serve a purpose.  It is both foul tasting and foul smelling, which helps to prevent bugs from wanting to crawl into the ear canal and make a nice warm protected home. Earwax also helps to keep the natural pH balance in the ear canal so that normally we do not develop fungus growing in the warm dark moist crevices in our ears. 

Cleaning the ear should be done as a regular routine of bathing/showering simply by washing the outer ear with a soft cloth, soap and water, then rinsing well. This is normally enough to keep earwax under control. Naturally earwax will migrate out of the ear canal and can be wiped away. We recommend against the use of cotton-tipped swabs as they push earwax further down into the ear canal.  There is also a risk of abrading the side of the ear canal, which is quite tender, resulting in a chronically itchy ear. Another consequence of using something smaller than your elbow is the risk of puncturing the eardrum. If you do use cotton-tipped swabs, please be gentle and be careful!  Make sure you are standing still. We have had patients who inadvertently punctured their eardrum by walking around while cleaning their ear and accidently bumping their elbow against a doorjamb or wall!

Ear wax and hearing aids
It is not uncommon for people who wear hearing aids to produce more earwax. Since earwax is a protective mechanism, the body produces more ear wax to help expel the foreign object from the ear. Normally the wax would migrate to the outer ear but hearing aids prevent this from happening. This is why some people who wear hearing aids will notice they are producing more earwax since they started wearing hearing aids.

Typically the hearing aid fits into the ear canal, and must pass through the area of wax production. Therefore wax can enter into the sound port of the hearing aid and plug it up.  Just like putting a cork in a wine bottle the hearing aids sound port has a wax plug and becomes weak, or stops working altogether. Most hearing aids are fit with some form of wax guard system to prevent the wax from entering too far into the hearing aids to damage the delicate and sensitive electronic components. Typically this wax guard system can be changed either by the patient or within the clinic by a hearing healthcare professional. With regular cleaning of the ear and the hearing aids, most expensive repairs can be avoided. Earwax is the most common cause for hearing instruments needing repair. A little preventative maintenance can go a long way towards avoiding costly repair fees.

Depending on the style of hearing aids used depends on the method of cleaning. Behind-the-ear hearing aids utilize an earmold or open-fit slim tube assembly which can be washed regularly in warm soapy water. Each BTE hearing aid should be wiped with a dry lint free cloth on a regular basis.

For the custom in-the-ear hearing aids, cleaning is a bit more difficult as the aid cannot be submersed in water without damaging the electronic components. Daily, the hearing aids should be wiped down with a soft dry lint free cloth and the sound openings should be brushed every morning prior to inserting the hearing aids into the ears. Once in a while, a cotton ball just slightly moistened (not wet) with 70% rubbing alcohol can be used to wipe accumulated oils off the hearing aids.

Advise your audiologist if  you have a chronic build up of ear wax and find out what methods are available to you to keep your ears unplugged. This decision will be made with you, depending on any other health or medical conditions.