It’s natural to want to look after your body as best you can. If you’re apt to protect your hearing and care for your ears, you might think that you need to start cleaning your ears on a regular basis or arrange to have your ears professionally cleaned. If you have questions about cleaning your ears, or you’re interested in finding out more about professional cleaning, continue reading this useful guide.

Do I need to clean my ears?

Most of us will be able to go through life without giving ear cleaning much thought. This is because the ears clean themselves. If your hearing is fine, you don’t have any pain and your earwax is yellow in color, there’s every chance that you won’t need to clean your ears, but it is a good idea to be aware of potential warning signs of wax build up. If you notice that your earwax looks darker than normal, you experience pain or you feel like the ears are blocked and you can’t hear as well as usual, it’s wise to give your audiologist a call.

When is professional ear cleaning recommended?

Audiologists often recommend leaving the ears and allowing them to clean themselves. However, there are instances where professional cleaning may be recommended. Earwax is produced to keep the ears clean and to protect them from debris, dirt and bacteria, but sometimes there is too much wax in the ears. If there’s a build-up of wax within the ear canals, this can cause pain and it can affect your ability to hear. If excessive wax is an ongoing issue, or you have symptoms that indicate that the ears are blocked, your audiologist may advise you to have your ears professionally cleaned.

When you have your ears cleaned by a professional, they will use safe, effective techniques to break down and remove hard wax. After cleaning, you should find that your ears feel clearer and any pain you had should dissipate. You might also notice an improvement in your hearing.

When to contact an audiologist

If you can hear fine, and you don’t have any pain or discomfort, you don’t need to worry about cleaning your ears. If you don’t have any symptoms, this suggests that your ears are doing a great job of cleaning themselves. If you do experience discomfort, or your ears feel clogged, it’s beneficial to contact your audiologist. There may be a very simple cause, which can be addressed quickly to improve your hearing and eliminate pain. Audiologists can also provide you with tips and advice to help lower the risk of repeat problems, for example, information about cleaning your ears at home.

If you’re wondering whether you need to have your ears cleaned professionally, your audiologist will be able to help. Unless you have symptoms of excessive earwax like hearing loss or pain, you probably don’t need to worry, but if you have any queries or concerns at all, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and talk to your audiologist.