CERUMEN (Ear Wax)

The word cerumen is from the Latin cera or wax.  It is a natural substance secreted in the ear canal of humans and many other mammals.  Cerumen helps lubricate the ear canal and provides some protection from bacteria, fungus and insects.  You may have heard that fly or mosquito circling around your ear but it didn’t go in!

There are fine hairs (cilia) that line part of the ear canal and push the wax out so it can be washed away.  It may become trapped in the canal if there is an unusual bend or hair in the ear canal.  Unfortunately, hearing aids may also pack the wax in the canal.    It is best to leave the wax alone except at the advice of a professional.  There is nothing “dirty” about earwax; it is natural to the ear.  The use of cotton swabs often times only packs the wax deep into the canal and can lead to problems.  The best advice is NOT to use them.

Cerumen and moisture accounts for the majority of hearing aid repairs.  The wax gets on and sticks to the speaker assembly and prohibits it from vibrating and amplifying sound.  Often times this problem can be solved in our offices but on occasion, the effects of the wax are so great the speaker must be replaced.  Our best advice for hearing aids and earwax is to have periodic cleanings as recommended by your audiologist.