Earwax is a problem everyone has to deal with. The human body produces earwax as a protective measure (keeping out bacteria, bugs, and dirt), but sometimes TOO MUCH ear wax is produced.  If left untreated you can end up suffering from hearing loss as earwax can clog your ears leaving you with a ringing sound and tinnitus symptoms.

Why Should You Clean Your Ears?

• To prevent dust, germs, and bacteria from entering your inner ears
• To reduce the risk of irritation, infection, or damage to the sensitive skin of your inner ear
• To slow the growth and spread of bacteria (which lives in your ear canal)
• To protect your ear from being irritated by exposure to water (such as when you go swimming)

Well, you only get rid of it if there is too much ear wax. An excess of ear wax can increase the presence of bacteria in your ears, making it more likely that you will suffer ear infections. It can also affect your hearing negatively. Many people think that there hearing is deteriorating – however it turns out to be just a build up of ear wax! If there is too much ear wax, you should clean your ears or have them irrigated professionally.

What Is The Best Way To Clean Your Ears?

We recommend that you have your earwax removed professionally as some methods of at home earwax removal can cause damage to the ear canal. Cotton swabs or Q-tips as there also known as –  are one of the most popular ear cleaning options. They’re cheap, available in every supermarket, chemist, shopping center and are easy to use. However, did you know by doing this you risk putting wax further down your ear canal? At the beginning, it will just a small quantity of ear wax around the ear canal. But the more you push the ear wax deeper into your ear, the more wax builds up. Eventually, you’ve pushed so much wax into your ear that you have developed an ear plug of wax deep in the ear canal, and you can block the canal completely – leading to reduced hearing and a long lasting ringing sounds (Tinnitus).

A build up of ear wax in the ear canal can form plugs of ear wax and it causes a feeling of fullness & dulled hearing. A build up of ear wax can also cause a ringing in the ear (Tinnitus) or even a mild type of dizziness (Vertigo). Your ears are fragile and also can easily be ruptured by using cotton swabs.

There are many ways to clean your ears safely – Hidden Hearing recommends Ear Irrigation.

Professional Ear Irrigation (Syringing)

For those who want a safe solution, ear irrigation is an effective option to consider. Hidden Hearing offer free earwax removal by Irrigation to over 55s.

Note: DO NOT try this at home! Visit your local Hidden Hearing Clinic & seek advice from your local Ear Wax Removal Specialist or Audiologist.

Simply put, the treatment involves water injected from a syringe into your ear. Our Ear Wax Removal Specialists applying the treatment will point the tip of the syringe at the edges of the ear wax, with the goal of loosening up large chunks or globs of wax.

Once the wax is loosened, it can be removed with medical tweezers. It is a highly efficient ear-cleaning method, and it can get rid of ear wax blockages.

We recommend that before your Ear Wax Removal Appointment, you use ear drops 2/3 times daily for 3-5 days before your appointment.

Types of ear drops that can be used:

• Olive Oil
• Almond Oil
• Sodium Bicarbonate ear drops
• Sodium Chloride ear drops

How to use ear drops 3/5 days before your Ear Wax Removal Appointment

• Start your appointment preparation 3/5 days before hand
• Pour a few drops into the affected ear 2/3 times a day for up to 5 days
• When you pour the few drops into your ear, lie with the affected ear uppermost
• Stay in this position for 2-3 minutes to allow the drops to soak into the earwax

Dr. Nina Byrnes  – Hidden Hearing’s Medical Advisors Top Wax Tip – 

“Before bed, apply the ear drops or olive oil to the ear and then put some cotton wool with a smear of Vaseline on the inside of into the ear & sleep like that. The earwax is softened and it often breaks up if you put in drops at least once a day for 3/5 days”.

How Often Should You Clean Your Ears?

There is no one answer to this as everyone’s body produces ear wax at a different rate, so it’s impossible for doctors,  to give a definitive answer. Genetics, diet and exercise can all be other factors effecting wax build up. Our professional ear wax removal specialists can advise you on what frequency you should clean your ears.

Book in for an ear wax removal today by calling 1800 882 884 or by clicking here.

The post Hidden Hearing on How to Clean Your Ears appeared first on The Hidden Hearing Blog.

On Mothers Day, we celebrate that special woman who has done so much for us over our life time. Our mom’s have done so much for us over the years and its only as we grow older we come to realize the scale of what our mothers did. Our childhoods were carefree, life was easier and most importantly she was always there to lend an ear or opinion.

This Mother’s Day on Sunday 26th, wouldn’t it be great to celebrate that amazing woman and take her out? As we seldom see our parents as we get older due to having our own lives, jobs, family’s or living in a different part of the world, take this time to really notice your mother. If she has changed her hair, or maybe you notice her hearing is not the same as it once was. Hearing loss can be a big issue for many people and can be easily cared for by making a free hearing consultation in one of our 75 branches or clinics nationwide. 

Today we are finding that more and more women are dealing with hearing loss issues and are not taking the measures to get the care they deserve due to the stigma attached to hearing loss and the old perception of what a hearing aid looks like. Many women also complain that their husbands don’t listen or cant hear well. Some think this is due to ‘selective hearing’. However rather than a hearing loss due to aging, they could be suffering from blocked ears with earwax.

From our recent street survey, we found that 1 in 4 people are now suffering from noise induced hearing loss. They additionally suffer from ringing in their ears. This could be a symptom of tinnitus which also should be treated with care. Read our recent blog post on tinnitus.

Show the parents & especially your mother a bit of care love and attention this mothers day. If you notice a hearing loss, schedule them in for a free consultation. Hidden Hearing also offer free earwax removal for the over 55’s in selected branches nationwide. Book your free appointment today. Call 1800 882 884 or click here to be brought to our contact us page.

#HelpHerHear

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The Benefits of Ear Wax

It sounds ridiculous, but earwax can actually be very useful! It contains beneficial oils that lubricate and protect the skin of the ear canal, and helps to trap particles and dust that might otherwise reach the sensitive eardrum. Earwax is also used to help in diagnosing some diseases, as different colours and consistencies can have different implications.

When earwax has done its job, it usually travels from the ear canal to the opening of the ear, where is dries up and falls out. However, if you have an excess of earwax, sometimes due to illness or old age, it can build up in your ear canal and affect your hearing. If you use a hearing aid, this can worsen the problem since the aid can push the wax deeper into the ear canal.

Earwax Removal: How to do it:

1. Clean the outer ear. It’s a good idea to use a cloth to wash the outer part of your ear, but you should avoid putting anything into the ear canal, as it is so easy to damage your ears.
2. Visit an audiologist. It’s important to have earwax removed professionally to ensure that your ears are protected from damage. The audiologist will have carried out the process several times so will ensure that it is quick and painless. Earwax is usually removed by using a curette to pull the blockage out, or with irrigation, using a softening agent to soften the wax and remove it.
3. Use cleaning drops. Sometimes it can be helpful to soften and remove excessive ear wax by using ear cleaning drops from your pharmacy, or a couple of drops of mineral or baby oil in the ear.

Keep Your Ears Clean With The Help of Your Audiologist

Your ears are doing a vital job for you, so make sure that you reward them by looking after them properly. Keeping them clean and well cared for is very important, and eating a healthy, balanced diet will help to prevent acquired hearing loss or problems with your hearing.

Regular hearing tests are very important throughout your life, but as you age they become even more essential. If you have a hearing aid, you’ll need to continue to have your hearing monitored to make adjustments and improve your hearing further where possible.

Problems such as earwax build up, that can cause hearing difficulties, can be quickly diagnosed and treated by your audiologist, leaving you free to enjoy crystal clear hearing once more! We run a free earwax removal clinic for anyone over the age of 55 (€50 if under 55), so call us today or book an appointment online here.

Do you need hearing advice?

We specialize in finding the right solutions for your lifestyle, especially if you need a hearing aid or want to try the latest hearing aid technology, so contact Hidden Hearing online, or pop into your local clinic today.

The post What Is The Purpose Of Earwax appeared first on The Hidden Hearing Blog.

Earwax is an important substance that helps clean, lubricate and protect the lining of your ears. Without earwax, your ears would become dry, infected and sore. But with earwax, like most things, the expression ‘too much of a good thing’ applies.

Build-up of earwax is one of the most common causes of hearing loss.  While earwax usually falls out of the ear gradually, in small pieces, sometimes a blockage, or plug, may form in the ear canal. This is more likely as you grow older and your earwax becomes drier. A blockage can cause pain as well as hearing loss and, if left untreated, can lead to infections and other complications. If you already suffer from hearing loss, excessive earwax can disrupt the function of your hearing aid.
At Hidden Hearing, we now offer a professional wax removal service (normal fee €60) free of charge to people over 55. The process is called irrigation. A hearing care professional flushes out your ear canal with water heated to body temperature. The water is gently applied to soften and dislodge wax, but at a pressure which won’t damage your ear. When your earwax has been removed, you will also receive a short, free hearing screening to diagnose or rule out any other hearing problems you might have.

To schedule a free earwax removal appointment at a location near you phone us free on 1800 844 923.

NOTE: For a limited time, we can now offer earwax removal to people under 55 for a special rate of €50.

The post Over 55s can now have free ear wax removal treatment at Hidden Hearing appeared first on The Hidden Hearing Blog.