Plugged ears resulting from a buildup of wax, or cerumen, occurs regularly in people of all ages, from toddlers and children to healthy adults and elderly individuals. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, wax-plugged ears occur most frequently in the geriatric and special-needs populations, affecting as much as 57 percent of elderly nursing home residents and 36 percent of mentally handicapped individuals. Although you have a variety of options for cleaning out earwax, including manual removal by a physician, you can successfully treat most cases of compacted cerumen at home with wax-softening drops, according to Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia.
Step 1
Verify with your primary care doctor that your compacted wax situation is appropriate for home removal. Depending upon your personal medical history, your doctor may wish to diagnose the cerumen compaction before allowing you to attempt treatment; typically, diagnosis occurs by checking the affected ear with an otoscope. Depending upon your symptoms and risk factors, such as a possible perforated eardrum, your doctor may opt to remove the wax herself during an office visit.
Step 2
Spread a towel on a flat, raised surface such as a table. The person with the affected ear should lay his head on the towel, positioning his head so that the unaffected ear rests on the towel; this should leave the affected ear completely exposed.
Step 3
Fill an eyedropper with a body-temperature liquid acceptable for use in softening earwax. According to the AAFP, acceptable water-based cerumenolytics---wax-softening liquids---include hydrogen peroxide, plain water and saline solution. Commonly used oil-based cerumenolytics include almond oil, mineral oil and olive oil.
Step 4
Drip 3 to 4 drops of an oil-based cerumenolytic directly into the ear canal of the affected ear. If you chose to use a water-based cerumenolytic, insert enough of the liquid to completely fill the ear canal, as recommended by the AAFP. Keep the affected person's head still for 15 to 20 minutes following treatment to allow the liquid to soak thoroughly into the hard chunk of wax.
Step 5
Treat the affected ear twice daily for up to 3 to 4 days. If the compacted cerumen symptoms worsen or they fail to diminish or disappear within 24 to 48 of the final treatment, arrange an appointment with your doctor for evaluation and treatment.
Tips and Warnings
- Symptoms of compacted cerumen may include progressive hearing loss, noises or buzzing in the ear, ear pain and a feeling of fullness in the ear canal, according to Medline Plus.
- Never attempt to irrigate or insert liquid drops into an ear that may have a ruptured eardrum; doing so may lead to complications such as an ear infection or dizziness. The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery states that manual wax removal by a physician is the preferred cleaning method if you have ear tubes, narrow ear canals or certain health conditions such as diabetes.
Things You'll Need
- Large towel
- Eyedropper
- Water- or oil-based cerumenolytic
