Do you suffer from ceruminosis?

Excessive ear wax, that is--It's an overlooked cause of hearing loss. I have to clean the wax out every 3-4 months, and the difference is noticeable. While some wax in the canals aids in reducing dry irritation and provides some antimicrobial protection, an impaction of wax against the ear drum reduces acuity. When water become trapped behind a wax buildup, and we've all felt that, it's time to do something. Debrox or an equivalent is the safest and most effective DIY treatment. It is the safest method, because the other is a mechanical removal, and this carries some risk of injury and is often painful. Do not stick anything into your ears to try to remove wax--that just pushes things in farther. Ear candling is dangerous and does not work at all--don't even think about it. Use drops over 4-5 days. These combine with the wax so it will run out as a solution. A bulb irrigation with warm water at the end of treatment will rinse it out, but go gently with this to avoid tympanic pressure. As always, consult with your doctor, who can easily visualize a wax buildup.