Local expert Khiyam Hussain from Hear Better With Us explains more about the impact ear wax has on our hearing, and how to take better care of your ears.

Ear wax plays an important part in keeping our ears healthy.

It protects our ears from dust, debris and bacteria and keeps our ears moisturised.

Our ears also have a clever self-cleaning mechanism, whereby the old wax is gradually pushed out of the ear.

However, sometimes we build up too much ear wax and this can cause adverse side effects.

• This may happen to you if you:
• Have narrow or damaged ear canals
• Have lots of hair in your ear canals
• Have had an infection, allergy or flu
• Naturally produce a lot of ear wax

Symptoms of a build-up of ear wax include:

• Earache, pain or discomfort
• Feeling of fullness in the ear
• Ringing or noises in the ear (tinnitus)
• Hearing loss
• Dizziness
• Itchiness in the ear
• Odour or discharge in the ear

Hear Better With Us is based at Oaks Precinct (image by James Smith)

Ear care is essential to keep our ears healthy.

Here are my top five tips for caring for your ears:

1. Avoid Cotton Swabs - despite common belief, inserting cotton swabs or other objects into the ear canal can push earwax deeper and lead to impacted wax or injury.

2. Ear Wax Softeners - if you experience a wax build-up, over-the-counter earwax softeners can help soften the wax and help it fall out naturally.

3. Professional Cleaning - in cases of persistent earwax blockage or if you are prone to a build-up of wax or experiencing discomfort or pain, you should seek professional assistance. At Hear Better With Us we remove ear wax safely and effectively using microcusuction.

Microsuction is one of the safest methods to clean the ear. We examine your ear canal using a microscope as this makes it easier for us to assess and treat ear wax. A suction device is then used to clean the ear without using any water.

4. Protect Your Ears - use ear protection in noisy environments to prevent excessive wax production triggered by the ear's natural defence mechanism against loud sounds.

5. Regular Check-ups – if you are prone to ear wax, we suggest three to six monthly check-ups to monitor your ear health and address any concerns promptly.

Taking care of your ears and seeking professional health care advice when needed can help prevent ear infections and hearing loss and help maintain healthy ears.

Book your appointment at Hear Better With Us today (image by James Smith)

Hear Better With Us offers ear wax removal via microsuction from £40 for one ear.

The Oaks Precinct business also offers free 15-minute hearing health checks.

Hear Better With Us is based at 1 Oaks Precinct, Kenilworth, CV8 1DP and operates on an appointment only basis.

Bookings can be made by phone on 0330 133 0655 or by email [email protected].

Or find out more on the website here.