Hearing Aids and Earwax Impaction

Impacted earwax is present in 1 in 10 children, 1 in 20 adults, and more than one-third of the geriatric and developmentally delayed populations.¹

Impacted earwax can lead to more serious health conditions like ear irritation, loss of balance, perforated eardrum and even hearing loss.

Patients with earwax buildup can present with a variety of symptoms, including:

Ear pain
Tinnitus
A foul odor and/or discharge
Otitis externa (infection of the outer ear canal)
Dizziness
Itchiness in the ear
Aural fullness
Hearing loss

Populations that are more prone to earwax impaction include:

Hearing aid or ear plug use
The elderly
Cotton swab use
Ear canals with an irregular shape
Certain developmental disabilities

Earwax Impaction and Hearing Aid Use

Hearing aids can cause earwax impaction because they stimulate cerumen production while also blocking the earwax’s natural migration out of the aural canal. Manufacturers of hearing aids report that 60-70% of devices are returned for repair due to earwax buildup.²

Regular ear cleaning is essential to help avoid earwax impaction as well as damage to the hearing aid device.

Unremoved earwax can clog hearing aid receivers/vents and the chemical components of earwax can cause vital parts of the hearing aid to degrade.

When patients with hearing aids allow wax to build up it can lead to the following:

Reduction in the intensity of sound
Reduction in mid and high frequency sound perception
Poor fit within the ear canal and not sealing properly
An audible whistling sound due to feedback

Hearing aid patients should frequently clean hearing aids using the following tactics and in accordance with manufacturer instructions:

Gently brush earwax or debris off of the microphone
Use a soft cloth to wipe down the entire hearing aid
Leave the battery door open at night
Use a wax pick to carefully remove any material from the air vent
Wash out any wax that is clogging the tubing
Remove excess wax from the upper ear canal and outer ear with Clinere® Ear Cleaners

Risks of Earwax Impaction

Imbalance is a primary risk of earwax impaction. Sensory information in the inner ear sends signals to the brain to help adjust balance, coordination, and movement. When earwax is up against the eardrum it can cause symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and/or a feeling that the world is spinning.

Patients often turn to cotton swab use when dealing with earwax impaction, however they can be making the problem worse. Items not designed for earwax removal can also cause injury to the ear canal, perforate eardrums, and/or dislocate hearing bones.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Earwax Impaction

Earwax impaction diagnosis should be made when earwax observed on an otoscopy is accompanied by symptoms, prevents an adequate assessment of the ear, or both.

Full evaluation of a patient’s medical history is needed to determine any modifying factors, such as anticoagulant therapy, immunocompromised state, diabetes mellitus, ear canal stenosis, and prior radiation therapy to the head/neck region.

Treatment and intervention may include cerumenolytic agents, irrigation of the ear, or manual removal of the impacted ear wax.

Clinere® Ear Cleaners and Ear Wax Kit

Clinere® Ear Cleaners provide a gentle, effective way to remove unwanted ear wax. Clinere® Ear Wax Kit also includes natural ear oil with high grade natural plant oils to loosen ear wax before removal. Clinere® products are effective for audiology patients prescribed hearing aids, and any individuals experiencing cerumen (earwax) buildup.

Clinere® helps increase the overall health of long-term care patients by reducing secondary ailments that can result from earwax buildup, including vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and the cognitive decline of patients.