Article by Hearing Partners, contributed by โSadrina Shah, Senior Clinical Audiologist at Hearing Partners
If youโve ever cleaned your ears yourself, youโd know how satisfying it feels to get rid of all the gunk. However, did you know that the ear actually has a self-cleaning mechanism? In fact, you donโt have to clean them yourself at all!ย
Having said that, some individuals may be prone to faster production of earwax which causes an excess buildup. In such cases, youโll need the help of a professional to remove your earwax.
In this article, weโll touch on the costs and right methods of earwax removal in Singapore. Weโll also cover the causes and symptoms of earwax buildup, and answer your burning questions!
Note: This article is purely for educational purposes. Hearing Partners does not provide ear cleaning or earwax removal services.
What is Earwax Buildup?
As a natural bodily process, your ear canal produces earwax (medical term: cerumen) to protect and moisturise itself. Earwax helps trap dust and other unwanted particles; they remove these particles as they move towards the outer part of the ear canal and flake off.
While it is good to have, too much of a good thing can become a bad thing. For some individuals, earwax production may be faster than normal. Coupled with undesirable habits such as regular ear digging, this may cause buildup.
What Causes Earwax Buildup?
Undesirable habits
Earwax buildup may be caused by the following habits:
Regular ear digging with cotton buds
Ear digging pushes earwax deeper into the ear canal which may cause the self-cleaning mechanism to fail.ย
Additionally, removing wax also removes moisture from the ear. This may cause the ear to overcompensate by producing more earwax to keep the ear canals moisturised.
Prolonged use of earphones, ear plugs or hearing aids
Putting something in your ears for a long time may prevent earwax from coming out and pushes it into the ear canal.ย
In Singaporeโs humid environment, this stimulates more sweat and earwax to be produced.
Prolonged use of earphones, ear plugs or hearing aids
Putting something in your ears for a long time may prevent earwax from coming out and pushes it into the ear canal.ย
In Singaporeโs humid environment, this stimulates more sweat and earwax to be produced.
Natural causes
Other than bad habits, there are some causes not within oneโs control that may cause earwax buildup.
Eczema or dry skin
Earwax helps to moisturise the ears. Thus, if the skin outside the ear canal is dry, the ear will overcompensate by producing more earwax, leading to a buildup.
Narrow ear canals
Those born with more narrow ear canals may not have an effective self-cleaning mechanism which will cause earwax to buildup.
Prolonged exposure to polluted air or environments
Another function of earwax is to trap dirt and unwanted particles such as dust. Frequent exposure to polluted environments can cause the ear canal to produce more earwax to clean out these substances.
What are the Symptoms of Earwax Buildup?
So,ย how do you know if you have a earwax buildup and need to get it cleaned? Here are some telltale signs to look out for:
- Ache or pain in the ear
- Difficulty hearing
- Ringing in the ear or tinnitus
- Feeling of a blocked or clogged ear
- Discharge or odour from the ear
- Dizziness
Note that if earwax buildup is not treated, it may lead to infection.
What Happens When You Dig Your Ears?
Itโs not advisable to dig your ears yourself! This is why:
When you dig your ears, especially with a cotton bud, itโll only push the earwax deeper into the ear canal. This may lead to impacted wax and disrupt the self-cleaning mechanism and cause it to fail.
You also risk puncturing the eardrum or having the cotton bud break and getting stuck in the ear canal.
What are the Right Ways to Remove Earwax?
If youโre experiencing earwax buildup, itโs best to visit a general practitioner (GP) or ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist to get it removed. In general, there are 2 main methods of earwax removal in Singapore.
Ear irrigation
Ear irrigation is a common, simple and routine procedure done in GP clinics in Singapore to remove excess earwax.ย
How it works:
- The GP inserts an otoscope into your ear to check for wax buildup
- Once confirmed that thereโs a wax buildup, the GP will insert a syringe tool filled with a water and saline mixture in your ear
- The earwax will then flow out of the ear canal into a dish or basin
Note that you may feel a slight discomfort when the water gets inserted in your ear. The process should take about 30 minutes or less.
Pros Cons Simple procedure Can get messy since water is involved Relatively affordable May not be able to clear earwax fully Can be done by many GPs Cannot be done if you have a ear infection
Micro suction
Another method of earwax removal is via micro suction which is done by ENT doctors.
How it works:
- The ENT doctor inserts a micro suction tube into the ear, together with an endoscope to take a closer look of the ear
- The tube extracts earwax carefully
- A small forceps may be used to extract hard or dry earwax if necessary
Pros Cons Safest method of removal More expensive Negligible or no pain unless earwax is hard or impacted Suction sounds may be noisy for some Treatment for ear infection (if required) can be done concurrently Only performed by ENT specialists
How Much Does Earwax Removal and Ear Cleaning in Singapore Cost?
The cost of earwax removal in Singapore depends onย
- the type of procedure chosen (since it can be performed by a GP or ENT specialist) and
- whether the clinic is a public or private clinic
Hereโs a rough price range as a gauge:
Public Private Ear irrigation $20 - $40 $30 - $60 Micro suction $50 - $100 $90 - $120
To get a more accurate quotation, contact your preferred GP or ENT.
Note: This article is purely for educational purposes. Hearing Partners does not provide ear cleaning or earwax removal services.
FAQs About Ear Cleaning and Earwax Removal
Does ear candling work?
Ear candling practitioners tend to sell benefits such as being able to remove wax from the ear and improve hearing. However, there has been no scientific evidence that ear candling has the said benefits.
In fact, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised against using ear candles as it can lead to burns, punctured eardrums and blockages in the ear canal.ย
Hearing Partners discourages anyone from trying ear candling. If you need to get your ears cleaned, consult a GP or ENT doctor.
Do you have to clean out your own earwax?
No, you donโt! The ear has a self-cleaning mechanism and need not be cleaned unless thereโs a buildup of earwax.
The lining of the ear canal, which is a thin layer of skin, grows outwards towards the entrance of the canal. This works like a conveyor belt that causes unwanted particles such as dead skin and earwax to move towards the outer part of the ear canal. Jaw movements such as chewing can also help to facilitate this movement.
The lack of moisture will then cause them to dry up and flake off naturally.
Why are my ears bleeding after I clean them?
There may be a few reasons why your ears started bleeding after you cleaned them with Q-tips.
- A pimple, cut or wound in the outer ear that may have been irritated
- Your eardrum may have been scratched or punctured
- A possible ear infection
In minor cases, the bleeding should stop on its own. However, if the bleeding is persistent, consult your doctor.
What happens if you don't get your ears cleaned?
Typically, the ears will clean themselves as they have a self-cleaning function. But at times, some individuals may experience a risk of earwax buildup.ย
In such cases, youโre advised to seek a professional (GP or ENT doctor) to get your ears cleaned. Untreated earwax buildup may lead to hearing loss, ear pain or aches, dizziness and ringing in the ears.
Sadrina is a Senior Clinical Audiologist at Hearing Partners. She is a certified Dangerous Decibels Educator and a member of the Society of Audiology Professionals Singapore. Sadrina is experienced in conducting hearing tests for both adults and children, and addressing hearing loss, tinnitus and sound tolerance disorders.