What Is Earwax?
Known as cerumen, earwax is an oily-wax secretion produced by special glands in the ear canal combined with dead skin cells. This sticky substance attracts dirt, debris, bugs, fungi, bacteria, and whatever else might be in your ear canal. As you talk and chew, the vibrations in your ear canal move the wax and unwanted debris toward the outer ear canal, like a janitor sweeping the floor. Most of the time, the process is completed naturally without you even noticing, but it can become built up or impacted, which is when your problems start.
What Is The Cause Of Earwax Buildup?
There are several reasons you might be experiencing earwax buildup, but one of the most common reasons is due to how you clean your ears.
When you use bobby pins, cotton swabs, or some other long slender item (much too painful to think about), you are probably pushing the earwax deeper into your ears and causing a blockage so that the earwax cannot move out on its own.
Other possible causes of impacted earwax include having a very narrow ear canal or a blockage due to regularly wearing hearing aids or earbuds (for personal music or as hearing protection). Without proper cleaning and care, earwax does not work its way out of your ears in the way it is designed.
Conditions like eczema or infections can also contribute to your ears producing unnecessary amounts of earwax as well.
There is a delicate balance when it comes to allowing your earwax to do its job and preventing earwax buildup, which is why working with a hearing care professional is the best solution for your problem.
How Does Scottsdale ENT Do Earwax Removal?
If you’ve never had an audiologist or ENT specialist clean your ears, you might have plenty of questions and concerns running through your mind. To help set your mind at ease, here is exactly what you can expect when you visit one of our ENT professionals for earwax removal.
#1 – We Get To Know You
The first things on our list are helping you relax and getting to know you, so we start off with a friendly chat about you, your medical and hearing history, your occupation and interests, and the earwax buildup symptoms you’re experiencing. This conversation helps us identify issues that may be contributing to an ongoing earwax buildup problem as well as other hearing care concerns.
#2 – Ear Inspection
We’ll move on by taking a deeper look inside your ear canal using our expert equipment to see exactly what is going on inside your ear canal to cause the blockage. This step helps us target your specific issue for safe and effective removal.
#3 – Unblocking Your Ears
TORS recovery times are significantly shorter when compared to open procedures. Because patients experience fewer side effects, they usually return to their regular routines much sooner. Additional questions about complications and recovery from transoral robotic surgery should be directed to Dr. Heiland’s office.
#4 – Instant Relief!
TORS in not the best treatment option for all patients with cancer of the tonsils, tongue base, or larynx. When other treatment options provide positive results without side effects, our specialists do not recommend TORS. Candidates for the procedure are usually those who are not seeing positive results from other treatments. For example, a sleep apnea patient who receives inadequate or no benefit from CPAP is a potential candidate for TORS.
Kurt E. Heiland, M.D,. who has significant experience with the procedure is the most qualified specialist in the region when it comes to offering TORS or recommending an alternate form of treatment.
Schedule An Earwax Removal Appointment Today!
Extracting your earwax at home does not produce safe and effective relief. Rather than making the problem worse, let one of our earwax removal specialists at Scottsdale ENT help bring you the lasting relief you deserve.
If you, or a loved one, is experiencing acute or frequent earwax buildup, then it’s time to get the professional help you need by completing and submitting the adjacent form. We’ll call you right back and help you schedule an earwax removal appointment.
What Our Patients Are Saying
Dr. Cheryl Mackechnie is excellent to work with.
She Performed my surgery this month and was very resposive and available to me afterwards when I had question/concerns. I would definitely recommend Dr. Mackechnie!
Donita Mcglasson
They are wonderful to work with
I have been here as a patient for nearly 5 years, and they are wonderful to work with. The staff is very careful these days with all patients to ensure there is minimal contact and patients are treated with professionalism and respect. I highly recommend this office!
Dan B
Dr. Heiland was full of good advice
I was there pre covid and everyone was very nice especially the office manager. The testing lady was excellent too and Dr Heiland was full of good advice and very easy to talk to.
Jim J
They listened to my issues and concerns
Unfortunately - I'm a lifetime award winner for allergy/sinus issues, which in many cases, requires short-term assistance from experienced professionals. I called Dr. Heiland's office and secured an appointment within 48 hours. Bridget (PA) and the audiologist were both superb.
Dale V
Debbie is the best audiologist I have met in my 40 years of nursing
Very caring physicians and staff and when you have Meniere's Disease that is so important. It is very easy to get an appointment or phone call when you are having an issue. Plus Debbie is the best audiologist I have met in my 40 years of nursing.
Joanne M
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