Ear wax

Ear canals are self-cleaning, most of the time. Our ear anatomy is designed to secrete and then slough off skin cells and wax. This makes for a healthy ear canal. However, not every ear canal works perfectly, so sometimes overproduction of ear wax can become a serious problem.

When wax over-produces and then cannot slough out on its own, the beginnings of an impaction process starts. As we work harder to clean it out, sometimes we jam it further down the ear canal, causing a serious impaction. Symptoms of an ear impaction may be earache, sense of fullness in the ear, decrease in hearing, ringing in the ears, coughing, itching, or discharge/drainage from the canal.

If you suspect that you have this problem, have your ears checked as soon as possible for a blockage by a qualified Hearing Instrument Specialist.

Kristi Murphy A.A.S., HIS, Post Falls Hearing Aid Center, 780 N. Cecil Road, Post Falls, ID 83854 (208) 457-8878.