Irrigation of the ear can lead to otitis externa, vertigo, perforation of the tympanic membrane, and middle ear damage if the tympanic membrane is perforated. These complications are less common with the syringe and IV catheter technique than when compared to the pulsating water device technique.
Modern ear syringing is safe, but as with most medical procedures, there are risks. These include the risk of ear infection (the most common risk), a perforated eardrum, vertigo, and temporary deafness. Common side effects of ear syringing include temporary dizziness, discomfort or pain, and tinnitus.
Watch the temperature: The water should not be too cold or too hot. If it is either, the temperature difference could make you dizzy. Avoid if necessary: Don't use the flushing method if you have a hole in your eardrum or if you've ever had eardrum surgery. Flushing may damage your eardrum repair.
Once the earwax is gone, any symptoms will usually improve over a day or two. Once your ear syringing procedure is complete, we'll provide you with professional advice on how to avoid a further buildup of ear wax, and safely care for your ears in the future.
I STILL HAVE AN EAR PROBLEM AFTER EARWAx REMOVAL. WHAT SHOuLD I DO? There may be another reason besides earwax that is causing your ear to feel blocked. This may be due to problems behind the eardrum in the middle ear, such as fluid or glue ear.
Ear Irrigation Recovery
Until it produces new wax, instruct your patient to keep their ear dry and not allow any water entry for at least five days. The patient should consult a doctor immediately if they experience pain, dizziness, reduced hearing, or discharge.
Your health care provider can remove excess wax by using a small, curved tool called a curet or by using suction techniques. Your provider can also flush out the wax using a syringe filled with warm water and saline or diluted hydrogen peroxide.
This is sometimes used in our dizziness and hearing practice in Chicago, and is very well tolerated. While there may be temporary dizziness with irrigation for ear wax, it shouldn't last longer than about 5 minutes at most.
The equipment used during ear wax removal does generate some noise, which some find to be very loud. In minimal cases, this can cause temporary short lived hearing loss, known as a temporary threshold shift. This occasionally happens when tiny muscles contract to protect the ear against noise.
Bulb Syringing:
If your ears are painful or have fluid coming out of them, or if you have a hole in their ear drum (perforation) or have recently had surgery on your ear you should see a doctor or nurse and don't use this method.
What is the usual frequency recommended for ear wax removal? For some people, a once-a-year visit to the ear care clinic is often sufficient but for many, having ear wax removed every six months may be recommended.
If a metal syringe is used, it should not be pressed too forcibly, as excess pressure can damage the ear drum. Water used in ear syringing should be at body temperature (37°C)—if it is too cold or too hot, it will cause dizziness or vertigo.
Can earwax removal cause dizziness? Yes, it can, irrigation earwax removal undertaken with water that is too cold can cause dizziness. In fact, during balance testing, we use cold water against the eardrum to induce dizziness.
You may experience dizziness during earwax removal by Microsuction. The vacuum created by Microsuction causes cool air to flow into your ear canal. When the cool air comes into contact with your eardrum, you might feel dizzy as a result.
A good rule of thumb is to see a professional for ear cleaning every six months or so.
Ear Infections – Cleaning your ears too much can trigger an ear infection between the eardrum and the outer ear. This condition is known as otitis externa.
If you used an ear wash, sometimes the fluid gets behind the wax and causes a blockage of some hearing until the rest of the wax and solution is removed. So, I would recommend seeing an Audiologist who can make sure all the wax has in fact been removed.
Frequent washing, however, can do more harm than good because it strips the ear of this delicate, protective lining, leaving the way open for bacteria to get in and multiply. Experts, recommend that you only clean your ears every two to four weeks.
If you don't clean your ears for years, earwax, also known as cerumen, can accumulate in the ear canal. The earwax can harden and become impacted, which can cause a blockage in the ear canal.
The answer is yes, if your hearing loss is partial and caused by wax blockage. In this case, your hearing will improve after the excessive wax is removed.
Consuming dairy products such as milk, eggs and cheese in high quantities can lead to the excessive production of earwax in your ear canals. This is because dairy foods contain lactose. Dieticians have also noted a link between milk and earwax, but mostly for people who are lactose intolerant.
We charge £55 for one or both ears. And if we don't find any wax, we'll complete a full ear health check, which costs £25.