If you’ve been having trouble hearing, and think you might have hearing loss, it might shock you to learn that earwax could be the culprit of your hearing loss. Those who work is Assisted Living Centers are realizing that that not all those who struggle to hear have hearing loss.
What Does Earwax Do?
Earwax, that greasy, sticky, or even gross buildup inside your ears serves a very important function. Earwax isn’t actually wax, but is a sticky substance call cerumen. This substance traps dirt, dust, debris, or small bugs, and stops them from entering too far into your ear canal, protecting the ear drum and the inner ear from damage. It’s the body’s way of both protecting and cleaning the ear, keeping the ears healthy. For most people, earwax that encounters dirt or dust becomes dry, and stops sticking to the ear canal. As it dries, it falls out of your ear, or is flushed out during a hot shower.
Earwax Buildup
For many people, this self-cleaning process works extremely well, and most don’t experience a buildup of wax, known as impaction. However, 30% of seniors experience a major buildup of earwax, and some have so much extra cerumen that it completely blocks the ear canal and interferes with hearing. In the U.S. there are nearly 2.2 million people in assisted living centers and nursing homes, and it’s estimated that two thirds of these seniors could be living with excessive earwax.
“The excessive amount of earwax can cause hearing loss or ringing in your ears,” says Jackie Clark, president of the American Academy of Audiology. “Some people experience vertigo, which increases the risk of falling.” Those with excessive earwax experience all the negative symptoms of hearing loss, including difficulty communicating and following conversations, social isolation, increased risk of depression, and rapid cognitive decline.
Earwax among Assisted Living Residents
Julie Brown, the assistant director of one of the units at Silver Ridge Assisted Living facility in Gretna, Nebraska, says that earwax buildup is especially problematic for residents living with dementia. It reduces their ability to hear, impedes communication, and adds to confusion or behavioral problems. “As soon as the earwax is cleared up,” says Brown, “even their behavior has calmed down.” Earwax in seniors is more than just an annoyance, but can have a profound impact on the lives of those living in assisted living centers.
How to Safe Remove Earwax
Excessive earwax effects more than 12 million people each year, and 8 million of them require earwax removal. People try all sorts of remedies to remove earwax, but many of them are dangerous to the health of your ears. Never put anything smaller than your elbow into your ears! Things like Q-tips, bobby pins, pencils, and even fingers can cause a lot of damage to your ears, and rather than cleaning your ears, often pushed earwax deeper into your ear canal, further blocking your ears.
Usually the best way to care for your ears is to leave them alone and let them clean themselves. If you have excessive earwax, the safest way to remove earwax is to visit a health care professional and have your ears flushed. Earwax is softened with water or saline, and your ears are then gently cleaned using water and a syringe.
Hear Now Mobile Hearing Solutions
For seniors living in assisted living centers, up and coming businesses offer this much needed service. One such company is Hear Now Mobile Hearing Solutions, which travels to assisted living centers to clean hearing aids and check ears for a buildup of ear wax. Janie York from Nebraska, founder of Hear Now, say that earwax buildup is like an epidemic among assisted living residents. “About 3 in 5 people I see have some degree of impaction and most are completely impacted,” she explains. All seniors, especially those with hearing aids, should have regular ear checks, around once every 6 months, to make sure their ears are clear and they’re able to hear easily.
My Hearing Centers
If you have hearing loss, have noticed changes in your hearing, or think you might have earwax buildup, visit us at My Hearing Centers for a checkup. We’ll examine your ears, clean your hearing devices, and determine if your ears are due for a cleaning. Look after your hearing health, and visit us today.