What should I do if earwax cannot be removed and there is an abnormal sound?
Oct 27, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Xu Gang
Introduction
Earwax cannot escape and may cause noise; it is recommended to treat this by removal with a curette, softening with ear drops, or irrigation of the external auditory canal. Dust and dirt, if not cleaned properly, can remain in the air and enter the ear canal, mixing with ear secretions to form earwax. Therefore, to keep the ear canal clean, one must pay attention to indoor hygiene as well as personal cleanliness.
When earwax is trapped and causing noise or discomfort, it is recommended to treat it by removal with a curette, softening with ear drops, or irrigation of the external auditory canal.
1. Removal with a curette
If the earwax inside the ear is very hard and cannot be removed easily, do not attempt to scratch or dig it out yourself, as this may cause bleeding, swelling of the ear canal, increased difficulty in removing the wax, and potential damage to the ear canal that could lead to hearing loss or deafness. It is advisable for patients to visit a hospital where a professional doctor can use a cerumen spoon (curette) to gently slide along the gap between the earwax and the ear canal wall and safely remove the wax.
2. Softening with medication
When earwax is too hard to remove, follow your doctor's instructions to use sodium bicarbonate ear drops to fill the external ear canal. Soak for about 15 minutes, then have a healthcare provider dry the ear canal with a cotton swab. Repeat the soaking every hour, continuing this process for three days. Afterward, the softened earwax can be removed using a suction device (such as a vacuum aspirator).
3. External ear canal irrigation
For stubborn, hardened earwax, patients may undergo external ear canal irrigation. Under medical guidance, use medications such as sodium bicarbonate ear drops or hydrogen peroxide to fully soften the earwax, then flush it out with water. Patients may also follow their doctor’s advice to irrigate using a sodium bicarbonate solution. If symptoms such as ear pain, pus discharge, swelling, or redness occur in the ear canal, consult a doctor and take medications like amoxicillin capsules or roxithromycin dispersible tablets as prescribed.
Dust and dirt, if not cleaned regularly, can float in the air and enter the ear canal, mixing with natural secretions to form earwax. Therefore, to keep the ear canal clean, it is essential to maintain good indoor hygiene and personal cleanliness.
