"EAR BUDS" Are NOT For Your EARS

I had posted some months back about ear wax and what needs to be done. Unfortunately, I still get lots of patients who continue using ear buds and have caused damage to their ears and ear drum. I had a 3 year child whose parents had used ear buds and had made a hole in the ear drum!!!. I also had a patient who had ear bud track in his ear. Another disadvantage is prolonged ear bud use can narrow your ear canal.

The best way is removal under direct vision by a doctor and the doctor must have access to a microscope. Practically speaking, this generally requires yearly visits to see a specialist called an "otologist".

Irrigation or "syringing" is a standard method of wax removal. While this is a conventional and accepted method of ear wax removal, it has many disadvantages compared to removal under direct vision. It can perforate the ear drum and when there is a perforation, irrigation may force water and wax into the middle ear.

I recommend against using cotton tipped applicators (the so-called 'Q' TIPS and ear buds) as well as putting other things into your ear such as hair pins. This can be dangerous because you run the risk of perforating the ear drum, as well as jamming wax deeper inside.