Ear wax Ear wax is also called cerumen, and is a secretion that the ear canal produces as a natural cleansing mechanism.

As ear wax flows slowly out of the ear canal, particles of dirt in the ear canal are removed. Ordinary hygiene is usually sufficient to remove ear wax.

In some people, however, excessive ear wax tends to accumulate in the ear canal.

The use of hearing aids can lead to the formation of ear wax plugs in the ear canal because the earmould or in-the-ear hearing aid pushes the ear wax further into the ear canal. Plugs of ear wax can temporarily reduce one’s hearing ability and cause the hearing aid to whistle.

We recommend that hearing aid users have their ear canals checked for ear wax regularly by their physicians or ENT doctors.

SEE ALSO:

The earmould

Cleaning the earmould