Call 520-524-5777 to be rerouted to our 24/7 hearing aid troubleshooting line.

Ear Wax Removal in Tucson, AZ

Ear wax is a natural and protective substance, but when it builds up or becomes impacted, it can cause hearing loss, ringing in the ears, dizziness, and discomfort.
Professional ear wax removal is the safest and most effective option, as attempting to remove wax at home can worsen blockages or injure the ear canal.
Oro Valley Audiology offers professional ear wax removal in Tucson, AZ, and nearby communities.

What is ear wax?

Ear wax, or the medical term cerumen, is the waxy substance in our ear canals. The ear wax can come in different consistencies which is affected by your heritage, genetic make up, health conditions, medications and if you stimulate production.

Most of the time the cerumen or ear wax keeps our ear canals healthy by catching and moving debris out of the canal such as hair, dust and other items. It has a noxious odor and taste (please just take our word on this) to dissuade anything to crawl into your ear. Letting ear wax do what it is made for keeps the ear very healthy, but some people do produce too much or push the wax down the ear canal with a cotton swab or other object and sloughing of the skin can not push it out.

When there is a blockage in the canal the individual will experience symptoms such as temporary hearing loss, dizziness, ringing in the ears or other problems.

Oro Valley Audiology audiologists provides professional ear wax removal in Tucson, AZ, and nearby locations.

Why is ear wax removal important?

When a blockage in the canal occurs because of wax and you try to remove yourself, you can do more harm than good. The canal skin along the wall is very thin and giving yourself a blood blister is very easy. Have a professional do it with the proper tools who can see down the canal and see what type of wax is produced and determine the best way to remove.

Ear wax removal service

If there is an overproduction of wax and the wax is very hard and not soft and waxy then pushing the ball of wax into the eardrum is a very real possibility causing a serious blockage. One should also be aware of medications or health conditions that affect skin health when working in the canal. We do this every day and we know the signs and symptoms and can look in the ear to help devise the best treatment plan to mange an further ear wax build up.

Do you have sudden tinnitus (a ringing type noise) that just started along with a plugged feeling?

A ringing type noice is a common symptom of ear wax build up, but it can also be a sudden hearing loss which should be treated within the first 24 hours of onset, we should look in the canals, remove the wax if it is there or get you into a specialist if another very important treatment is needed before damange occurs.

Ear Wax and Hearing Aids

Ear wax and hearing aids are always a challenging mix. We need the wax but there are times the ear “sees” the hearing aid as a foreign body and increases production to get the foreign body “out” of the canal. If the wax is very sticky then it can clog up the speaker or receiver of the hearing aid easily. Hearing aids have filters to protect the speaker, but they have to be changed to be effective.

Some people have to change the filter every other week and some do not have to change for months at a time. It is not the hearing aids “fault” you have waxy ears, and your production can change at any time throughout life. We devise a treatment plan to keep up with the wax in the ears and your hearing aids so it isn’t as frustrating for you.

Common Questions:

Can you remove ear wax at home?

Sometimes, we do set up treatment plans at home for wax removal if there is not a health condition that would put you more at risk for infection or bleeding. If there is a change in your health or medications we would want to know right away and make sure the treatment plan you are on is still appropriate. DO NOT do candling! This is a very dangerous home remedy that is popular online and does not work. You can place the funnel in an empty bottle, and you will see the same “excretions” as they show in those online videos. Why would you place an open flame next to your head?

How do you know if you have ear wax build-up?

The effects of too much ear wax are itchy ears, feeling of fullness, tinnitus, dizziness, and hearing loss. All of these symptoms can be signs of other health issues as well. It is best to have a Doctor of Audiology look in the ear canals to see if there is an abnormal buildup of wax. If you need to see an audiologist in Tucson, AZ, please contact us.

How do you flush out ear wax?

We have this fantastic machine called the Earigator. Dr Huch was introduced to it on one of her Humanitarian trips in South Africa in 2019. The basin of water is heated to body temperature and is then used to flush out the ear canal. On humanitarian trips, we see up to 1300 people in 3 days, and before the Earigator, we might have gotten to 100 people in those 3 days to remove wax with other methods, but we were able to clean 300 people in South Africa when we used the Earigator. It has been a complete game-changer.

Is it safe to put hydrogen peroxide in your ear?

If the hydrogen peroxide is diluted (4 parts water to one part hydrogen peroxide), then it can be used safely. It is not recommended to use full-strength hydrogen peroxide on your skin, especially on a regular basis. It dries out the skin and can cause extreme irritation.

Is ear wax removal painful?

If the ear wax has been impacted for many years there can be some discomfort. We are very skilled in knowing the type of wax and if it has adhered to the canal wall. We can provide drops to soften the wax and make it easier to remove.

Can you use cotton swabs to clean your ears?

Please do not use swabs, most of the time the wax is pushed down farther into the canal and can not work itself out. Another side effect is causing a blood blister on the canal was since the skin is so thin and lastly it stimulates the ear wax glands to produce more wax!

What is impacted ear wax?

Impacted ear wax is cerumen that has been pressed into a firm plug against the ear canal wall or the eardrum instead of working its way out on its own. It usually happens when wax is pushed deeper by a cotton swab, an ear bud or a hearing aid, or when the ear simply produces more wax than the canal can clear. Common signs are muffled or reduced hearing on one side, a blocked or full feeling, ringing in the ear, itching, and sometimes dizziness or ear pain. A plug like this will not clear with more swabbing. It needs to be seen and removed under direct view with the proper tools, which is what an audiologist does.

Is ear candling safe?

No. Ear candling is not a safe way to remove ear wax. A lit hollow cone held in the ear does not create the suction it is claimed to create, and it does not pull wax out of the canal. What it does create is real risk: burns to the face, ear and hair, candle wax dripping into the canal on top of the existing blockage, and in some cases a punctured eardrum. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers against ear candling for these reasons. If your ear feels blocked, professional removal is faster, safer, and you get an answer about what is actually causing the blockage.

When should I see an audiologist instead of treating ear wax at home?

Come in rather than treat it yourself if you have sudden hearing loss or new ringing with a plugged feeling — sudden hearing loss should be looked at within 24 hours of onset, because it may not be wax at all. Also see us rather than self-treat if you have ear pain, drainage or bleeding, a history of a perforated eardrum or ear surgery, diabetes or a condition affecting skin health, or if you wear hearing aids and the ear keeps blocking. Oro Valley Audiology removes ear wax in Tucson by appointment only. Call 520-825-4770, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.