By now you probably know that cotton buds and ears don’t mix. (If this is the first you’ve heard on the matter, have a quick read of by audiologist Clinton Nottingham.)

Basically, when you try to clean your ears yourself, you can push earwax deeper inside your ear canal, making it a literal barrier to your hearing. Excessive or impacted earwax can lead to infection. And it can wreak havoc on your hearing aids.

Earwax exists to lubricate our ears in the same way tears lubricate our eyes. Without adequate amounts of earwax, our ears would feel dry and itchy. Your ears are normally self-cleaning, and earwax is usually naturally expelled when you move your jaw or chew.

But hearing aids can cause your ears to produce large amounts of wax.  

I‘ve put together a quick guide to help you figure out whether your ears are in need of a professional clean.

• Your ears feel ‘full’ or plugged
• You’ve noticed changes in your hearing
• You have a persistent earache
• You experience tinnitus sensations (like ringing in your ear)
• Your ear itches, emits an odour/discharge

Do you suspect you need your ears cleaned by a professional? Make an appointment with your GP or a trusted hearing professional.

If you’re in the area, the clinicians over at East Melbourne can investigate whether or not ear wax is the culprit of your problems, and they’ll remove it using the latest suction technology.

You might benefit from regular preventive ear-cleaning appointments if you use hearing aids or are particularly prone to blockage.