Can Ear Wax Be Removed by Vacuum?
Q.
My husband has a problem with ear wax. He has had hearing aids for a few years now but doesn't wear them all the time so they have to be adjusted regularly.
Every time we go they say his ears are black with wax so we do the normal routine ear drops for 2 weeks and then see the nurse for them to be syringed and we always end up going back sometimes 3 times.
Is there somewhere or something else we can try? I have heard a suggestion that they can be vacuumed is this correct?
A.
Ear wax removal using vacuums was developed from the old-fashioned method of ear candling; a practice that is not often seen in the UK anymore due to the potential dangers. It works be building up a negative pressure in the ear and encouraging the wax to be emitted due to the pressure ‘sucking’ it out.
Although it is true that there are devices available on the market that suggest the ear can be vacuumed free of wax that has built up, this practice is not really recommended by health professionals. The reason for this is because the devices usually involve sticking a probe or tube into your ear. The risks of doing this can be very detrimental to the health and function of your ears. Not only might it put you at risk of transmitting an infection, but there is also a risk of perforating the ear drum and causing trauma to the delicate structures.
The devices are often quite expensive with no guarantee of success so they are probably best avoided for use at home.
Some hospitals in other countries do offer to remove the built up ear wax using a vacuum device but this is only after they have been trained on the specific device and are competent at using it.
Unfortunately ear wax build-up is an on-going problem for hearing aid users and doctors recommend that this group of people have an appointment every 6 – 12 months to assess and treat any build-up. This treatment will probably consist of the type of syringing that your husband has already received but they may suggest ways in which you can soften the wax at home which aims to allow the ear to expel the wax before the need for syringing arises.
It may however be possible to swap the type of hearing aid used. There are now versions available that sit behind the ear instead of in the actual ear itself but these aren’t suitable for all users. Please speak to your GP or specialist for more information. Do not be tempted to buy one of the behind the ear aids before seeking advice because you may be wasting your money.
