“I have a query into ear wax build up. I have a child who wears hearing aids and suffers with constant build up of wax which has to be periodically cleaned by ear syringe with the doctor. As she has a huge fear of doctors and an intelluctal disability this causes alot of stress. I try softening with olive oil but i am not winning the battle as it is a constant struggle which then impacts further on her hearing loss. Any suggestions on how to prevent or treat without constant intervention?”

You might need to get expert help here. First: have you talked to your GP about using drops regularly.

No one likes getting their ear wax cleaned out. So, let’s go over: what works? What doesn’t? What is a really bad idea?

What is recommended? Using prescribed ear drops, even for impacted ears. Using medicinal ear drops recommended by your doctor, as directed (usually twice a day), for 5 days, will clear even impacted ear wax in more than half of patients. Oddly, the same study found that one third of the control group, who had no treatment, still cleared ear wax within 5 days. What drops are better? Studies have shown that all of the preparations available from your chemist are just about the same. One doesn’t work better than another.

What works even better? Professional ear irrigation by your GP or practice nurse or audiologist.

Experts (like ENT clinics) may use manual removal by scraping it out with special instruments, which is often a good choice for patients with a hole in their eardrum or other conditions. This only a good choice though for patients who can sit very still.

What is just a bad idea? Home ear irrigation (just no, especially if you/your child has any ear conditions or other conditions such as diabetes), home ear vacuums, or using home manual removal with anything from cotton buds “Q-tips”, hair pins, etc. On any given day across this country, ED docs are seeing performated ear drums, infections/injury to ear canal, or things “stuck” in ear (such as broken end of cotton buds)

What doesn’t work? Ear candling. Doesn’t work. Yes, it’s been studied. Why does it appear to work? Back at the top, as stated, if you do nothing about ear wax, at least one third of people with impacted ear wax get better on their own in five days (or less).

What about special cases? Certain patients with narrow ear canals, eczema in their ear canals, recurrent otitis externa infections etc. will have more problems and may need expert ENT advice.

So, how to clean your child’s ears at home? Don’t. If it is causing a problem, such as pain or hearing loss, talk to your GP.

You were all waiting for me to give that classic doctor advice here, so here it is:

Never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.