Earwax Removal | ENT Associates of Chester County, PA (2024)

FAQs

How much does it cost to remove wax from ear? ›

Why choose earwax removal with Bupa? Our service is only £55 for both ears with no hidden surprises. And if there's no wax, you won't get charged. It's easy to book online or by phone.

You're likely to start by seeing your health care provider. In some rare cases, however, you may be referred to a provider with special training in ear disorders (ear, nose and throat specialist).

Earwax removal is the most common otolaryngologic (ear and throat) procedure performed by primary care physicians (PCPs) in the United States. Your physician knows how to soften and safely remove earwax using special instruments such as a wax spoon, suction device or ear forceps — a long thin tool used to grab earwax.

If the aim is to completely break down the wax, waxsol, peroxide 3% or a sodium bicarbonate solution (which can be prepared by your local pharmacist) is effective.

If your doctor recommends that you try to remove earwax at home: Soften and loosen the earwax with warm mineral oil. You also can try hydrogen peroxide mixed with an equal amount of room temperature water. Place 2 drops of the fluid, warmed to body temperature, in the ear two times a day for up to 5 days.

Our trained members of the pharmacy team will gently insert a small suction probe into the ear and use low suction pressure to remove the ear wax. The procedure is performed under magnification with a bright LED light giving a clear view of the ear canal and eardrum.

Insert the drops: Carefully insert a few drops into the ear canal using a dropper or syringe. Wait: Stay still and wait about five minutes, giving the drops time to work. Drain: Tilt your head to allow the solution to drain out.

Earwax usually falls out on its own. If it does not, and builds up and blocks your ear, you can try to remove it.

People should not poke anything into the ear to remove earwax, but gently dripping hydrogen peroxide, ear drops, or baby oil into the ear will soften the wax, which may cause it to come out. Earwax, also called cerumen, serves an essential function in the body.

How to syringe ear wax out? ›

Hold the nozzle inside the ear canal (not too deeply) and gently squirt the water from the bulb syringe into the ear. You can gently squirt more water into the ear if needed. Leave the water in your ear for 1-3 minutes to soften the wax. Tilt your head over the sink so the water can fall out.

Ear drops alone will clear a plug of earwax in most cases. Put 2 or 3 drops of ordinary olive oil down the ear 2 or 3 times a day for 2-3 weeks. This softens the wax so that it then runs out of its own accord without harming the ear. You can continue for any length of time, but 3 weeks is usually enough.

Earwax removal tips

Instead, soak a cotton ball and drip a few drops of plain water, a simple saline solution, or hydrogen peroxide into the ear with your head tilted so the opening of the ear is pointing up. Keep it in that position for a minute to allow gravity to pull the fluid down through the wax.

Once earwax naturally moves toward the opening of the ear canal, it typically falls out or washes away. Washing your hair is usually enough to remove the wax on your ear's surface. During a shower, a small amount of warm water enters the ear canal and loosens any wax accumulated there.

If the ear wax is sticky or hard, you may need warm oil or ear drops to soften it. After softening the ear wax, warm water to body temperature. Cold water may make you feel dizzy or cause vertigo. Keeping your head upright, gently pull the outside of the affected ear forward.

The cost to get your ears cleaned is usually between $100 and $250 at an audiologist or primary care physician. Of course, if you have insurance then it might be covered completely, or just require a co-pay, depending on your plan.

The pain, discomfort, and safety of removal depend upon the method that is used to remove the wax. For most, earwax removal is similar to getting your teeth cleaned. You know it's happening but it doesn't hurt.

No objects — including cotton swabs — are safe for extracting ear wax at home. Home remedies like irrigation and vacuum-type devices aren't well studied and may harm your ears and hearing. So, while you may be tempted to address an ear wax blockage yourself, it's much safer to visit your doctor's office.

The procedure can take anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour, depending on the buildup and your comfort level. If you have a lot of earwax, the doctor may take longer to remove it. The doctor will clean out your ears with solutions and then use an instrument called an auriscope to look inside your ear canal.