Ear Wax

[tony1941]

My doctor tells me that syringing is not a favoured procedure these days as it can permanently damage the patient's hearing. What are you supposed to do, then , if you can't hear properly in one ear - and the doctor tells you it's because of wax - and the usual drops have no effect after two weeks? My reaction was to ask for a more careful doctor /nurse to do the job - but I managed to keep my mouth shut in the interests of future general health!!

[sixpence]

Think this is all the rage now, but I've never tried it. I'm still old-fashioned enough to use olive oil!!
http://www.cleanears.co.uk/

[Dollie]

I believe that syringing is being done more cautiously these days as its thought that in a small number of cases it can induce the condition known as Tinnitus. Have asked my sister who's a nurse in ENT they do a fair bit of treatment which is suction, and can only be done at hospital. I think its fairly painless, like syringing, but seems to be considered the safest method these days. If it gets too bad, ask for a referral to hospital and let them suck it out - good luck.

[heathfield]

This is an utter cop-out by the medics in general. For generations, gently washing out the wax using warm water worked fine. Now they've realised that this can take up to around 15 to 20 minutes of NHS time per ear by someone who has had to have some minor training in the procedure. Prescribing drops takes 2 minutes or less. The fact that two weeks worth of drops can produce no result and still leave you half deaf doesn't seem to concern them. They use the excuse that the water method can flush germs and bacteria into the inner ear and start up infection. So why don't they get around that by using an antisceptic wash? No answer! Like I said - a cop-out, that reduces your quality of life for however long it takes for your ear to clear.

[198x]

I had gromits put in my ears when I was a child and I have severe hearing problems. I went to the doctors who told me what I should do is get my ears syringed. When booking an appointment and a couple of weeks waiting I went and seen the nurse and she said if I were to get my ears syringed it would actually burst my ear drums.

I've changed doctors and my new doctors has now booked me for a hearing test (I've been told it's a 12 month waiting list) and it's currently month 7 of waiting. But I could have gone deaf by then, but I've been told to use various types of ear cleaner like Otex, Earex and Audax.

But I do understand your dilemma as Otex does work for me but gets stuck in my ears and I can't hear, Earex doesn't dissolve the wax and Audux is similar to Earex.