A controlled in-office ear cleaning performed by an ENT physician using the appropriate technique for complaints such as hearing loss, fullness and dizziness caused by excessive or hardened earwax.
Indication
- Hearing loss and a sense of fullness due to earwax
- Pressure and pain in the ear caused by obstructive cerumen
- Earwax buildup that obstructs otoscopic examination
- Itching, ringing (tinnitus) and dizziness related to the ear canal
- Need for canal cleaning in hearing aid users
- Cerumen pushed inward and hardened by cotton swabs
- Canal cleaning required for examination in children
Preparation
- Otoscopic assessment of the location, amount and consistency of cerumen
- Inquiry about eardrum perforation, ventilation tube or active infection
- Starting cerumenolytic (softening) drops 2-5 days in advance for hard cerumen
- Comfortably seating the patient and placing a protective drape on the shoulder
- Parental support to keep the head and body steady in children
How it's performed
- Softening with warm saline or cerumenolytic drops in mild cases
- In irrigation, body-temperature water is delivered into the external ear canal in a controlled manner via syringe
- Softened cerumen is collected in a kidney basin together with the water flow
- In hard or obstructive cerumen, removal is performed by an ENT physician under microscopy using a curette or aspirator
- Protection of the eardrum and external auditory canal throughout the procedure
- After the procedure, the ear is gently dried with a soft cloth and a check examination is performed
Post-procedure
- Avoiding water entry into the ear for 24 hours after the procedure
- Use of drops as advised by the physician if mild redness or irritation is present
- Patient education about not using cotton swabs
- Follow-up every 6-12 months in patients with recurrent buildup
- Further evaluation with audiometry if hearing complaints persist
Risks
- Transient dizziness or nausea during irrigation (especially with cold water)
- Mild irritation, redness and rare bleeding in the external ear canal
- Eardrum injury with very hard cerumen (especially with improper technique)
- Risk of infection after irrigation if there is an unrecognized perforation
- Transient sensitivity related to curette use in a dry canal
FAQ
Can I clean my ears with cotton swabs?
Cotton swabs usually push cerumen deeper and cause obstruction. ENT physicians do not recommend cotton swab use; routine cleaning is unnecessary.
Which method is right for me: drops, irrigation or curette?
The method depends on the hardness of the cerumen, the condition of the eardrum and the patient's age. Irrigation is generally not appropriate when there is a tympanic membrane perforation or a ventilation tube. The decision is made by the physician after examination.
How will I feel after the procedure?
Most patients experience relief and a clear improvement in hearing afterwards. A mild sense of fullness or fluid may persist briefly and resolves quickly.
Related Information
Related Medical Services
Other services in the same specialty or with similar indications you may want to explore.
Otoscopy
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Otoscopic examination — basic ENT assessment in which the external auditory canal and eardrum are evaluated with an illuminated magnifier.
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