Do Audiologists Remove Ear Wax?​

Ear wax is a normal and healthy thing for our ears. Most people have a normal amount of ear wax, and the ear wax drains out of the ears by itself. Some people have too much ear wax and/or their ear wax does not drain properly, which means they can often end up with ear wax buildup deep down in the ear canal. This can be quite uncomfortable if not very painful.

Ear wax buildup is not an easy thing to live with. Some people are able to remove excess ear wax at home with kits or products that can be found at most drug stores. However, sometimes the ear wax problem is too difficult to deal with at home. In this case, it becomes necessary to visit the doctor and have the ear wax professionally removed.

ENTs (ear, nose, and throat specialists) and audiologists are both qualified to remove ear wax in their office. ENTs are probably the more common choice for ear wax removal appointments, but some patients already have an audiologist that they trust and therefore decide to go and visit them instead of going to a new doctor.

Audiologists generally have two main way of removing ear wax. They prefer to send patients home with an ear wax removal kit, but will do an in-office procedure if needed. Your audiologist will assess the seriousness of the ear wax buildup before deciding what actions to take.

Doctors have what’s called a currette. This may be what your audiologist tries first. A currette is a small device with a scoop at the end that is used to gently scoop the ear wax out of the ear canal. You should never try to stick anything inside of your ear canal at home. That’s why doctors perform this in the doctor’s office only.

Your doctor may also use water to irrigate the ears as well as stronger medicinal solutions to break up the ear wax. These solutions may be stronger than what you would use at home. Sometimes he will try one method first, or a combination of the methods to achieve results.