Improving My Hearing
I was going to post this as response to another’s question, but then thought I should make a new thread so more people could see it.
I have seen comments here regarding hearing difficulties as we get older. At 71, I am not immune (though I have friends whose hearing is worse). While I was seeing my doctor regarding another issue, I told her about a clicking noise from one ear — I thought maybe I had water stuck and tried to get it out, to no effect. She asked me if I wanted to have my ears cleaned — “You do that here? Sure!”
She had a nurse that cleaned ears as a specialty. The lady came in with her kit, examined my ears and then started flushing them with fluid. She probed my ears with tweezers and had to flush them again. Whatever was in there had adhered itself to my ear canals, and as she pulled and pried, I felt pinching pains. Eventually she gets a grip and extracts a wad of furry content — it looked like a bee had died in my ear. That was the ear I had problems with. But then she removed a wad the same size from my other ear. I was astounded! I had tried on my own to clean my ears and felt the same pinching, but never produced much debris. This was really stuck in there! Afterward, I noticed that I could hear better.
A friend my age has noticeable hearing loss and I was telling him about this. He expressed interest and I asked the nurse about his getting such service. She said my friend should ask his doctor, who would either have someone on staff to do it or could refer him to an ear-nose-throat specialist. I thought maybe this information would be beneficial to members here. We got to take care of our own equipment too!
@bob540 , Your story reminded me of a scene in Shrek, where he reaches into his ear, pulls out a glob of wax and uses it as a candle. I’ve been using Q-Tips all my life. Go in slow while spinning the Q-Tip, being careful not to go too deep. I usually do this right after a shower. |
I have had significant buildup a couple times (in the Spring) and before seeing my doctor, I had gotten and in the ear camera... for my iPhone... so I could look and it came with a little scoop to get wax out. I can’t recommend it other than for looking. But it was useful. I see my doctor every six months and he tells me if there is any buildup. A couple times he had his nurse us a gismo attached to the faucet that would spray warm water in and wash the wax away. It was very effective (no bees in there). However, it was one of the loudest things I have heard... I am not sure it is good for your hearing. After using bulbs and hydrogen peroxide cleaning agents made for the ears. I found something far simpler and I am sure much safer than using the professional ear jet. When in the shower every week or two I just gently apply a little bit of bar soap with my finger around the perimeter of my ear channel and then gently wash with my shower wand by indirectly spraying warm water into my ear. It is easy to get the spray so it causes a rotation of the water in the ear. It effectively washes out the ear without the incredible roar from the professional tool. My ear channels end up clean as a whistle like the rest of me. No syringes and special equipment needed. |
