Sudden or short-term
Ear Wax Removal in Southlake, TX
Safe in-office wax removal, usually done in one visit, with the difference audible immediately.
We see patients age 16 and older.
Blocked ear wax is one of the more satisfying things we treat, because the fix is immediate and you notice the difference before you leave the room. It is also one of the most common causes of sudden hearing loss in adults, and it is frequently mistaken for something more serious.
When wax is worth removing
Wax is normal and self-clearing for most people. It only needs removing when it causes a problem.
- Reduced hearing or a blocked, full sensation
- Ringing or a whooshing noise in the ear
- Dizziness or imbalance
- Ear pain or itching
- Cough, occasionally, from stimulation of the nerve in the canal
- When it prevents us from seeing the eardrum and we need to
- When it interferes with a hearing aid fitting
How we do it
We look first with an otoscope to confirm wax is the problem and that the eardrum is intact.
Depending on the wax and your history we use irrigation with body-temperature water, manual removal with a curette under direct vision, or suction. Manual removal is often more comfortable and avoids getting the canal wet, which matters for some patients.
If the wax is very hard we may ask you to use softening drops for three to five days first and come back. That short delay makes the removal faster, more comfortable and less likely to need a second attempt.
When we do not irrigate
Irrigation is not safe for everyone, and this is the reason to have it done properly rather than with a kit from a pharmacy.
We avoid it with a known or suspected perforated eardrum, ear tubes, a history of ear surgery, a single hearing ear, recent middle ear infection, or a canal that is already inflamed. In those situations we use manual removal or refer to ENT.
Poorly controlled diabetes raises the risk of external ear infection after irrigation, so we are more cautious there.
What to avoid at home
Cotton swabs push wax deeper and cause a large share of perforated eardrums. Ear candles do not work and cause burns. Hydrogen peroxide used repeatedly irritates the canal and can lead to infection.
Over-the-counter softening drops are fine and often useful before a visit. Sticking anything solid into the canal is not.
If your hearing does not come back
Removing the wax should restore hearing immediately. If it does not, the wax was not the whole problem and we look further.
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a genuine emergency with a treatment window measured in days, and it gets referred to ENT urgently rather than watched. Persistent one-sided hearing loss, ringing in only one ear, or hearing loss with dizziness all need further evaluation.
Related problems
Ear pain with a normal canal often comes from the jaw joint, the throat, or the teeth rather than the ear itself. We check for those rather than assuming an infection.
Ear fullness during and after a cold is usually eustachian tube dysfunction and resolves on its own, though it can take several weeks. See cold and flu.
Same-day appointments are covered on our sick visits page. See our primary care Southlake practice overview.
Questions about your own case?
These pages describe how we treat this generally. What matters is your history, your labs and your medications, and that takes a visit. We are taking new patients now and most major insurance is accepted.
Questions patients ask
Why not just use cotton swabs?
They push most of the wax deeper and pack it against the eardrum, which is what causes the blockage in the first place. They also cause a large share of perforated eardrums. Nothing smaller than your elbow, as the saying goes.
Do ear candles work?
No. They do not remove wax, the residue is candle wax rather than ear wax, and they cause burns and perforations. The FDA has warned against them.
Does removal hurt?
It should not. There is a sensation of water or pressure and it can feel odd, but pain is not expected. Tell us if anything hurts and we stop.
How long does it take?
Usually ten to fifteen minutes. If the wax is very hard we may ask you to use softening drops for a few days and come back, which makes it faster and more comfortable.
How often will I need this?
It varies enormously. Some people need it once, others every six to twelve months. Hearing aid users and people with narrow ear canals need it more often.
Related care at Magnolia
2111 Kirkwood Blvd, Ste 110C, Southlake. Free parking directly in front.