Hearing loss issues

Lately, I’ve noticed my hearing isn't quite what it used to be... I heard there’s such a thing as professional ear cleaning at the doctor's office—does anyone know anything about that? How does the procedure actually work? And more importantly, does it hurt?

It is actually quite straightforward... I work in the ER, though not everyone follows this protocol. Usually, they refer you to an ENT specialist who performs a high-pressure irrigation on the ear. It involves a large 😁 device, but since there is no needle involved, you don't have to worry about any pain. Depending on what the doctor prefers, they might use a specific solution or even just plain water... they flush out the ear, the cerumen clears out, and then you experience 😁 relief—assuming, of course, that the hearing loss was caused by an obstructive wax buildup.

Is there actually any other way to handle this? I’ve heard that constantly rinsing out your ears can do more harm than good.

I need an alternative, and I mean one that doesn't involve firing up those Tuljaks that can end up permanently wrecking your eardrums.

It isn't really recommended to do this too often since earwax actually serves a purpose in the ear canal, but if it's genuinely interfering with your hearing, then clearing out the excess shouldn't cause any harm...

Honestly, forget cleaning it—just start growing cabbage in your ears instead!😁 😁 😁

Sam Hall15 said:It is actually quite straightforward... I work in the ER, though not everyone follows this protocol. Usually, they refer you to an ENT specialist who performs a high-pressure irrigation on the ear. It involves a large 😁 device, but since there is no needle involved, you don't have to worry about any pain. Depending on what the doctor prefers, they might use a specific solution or even just plain water... they flush out the ear, the cerumen clears out, and then you experience 😁 relief—assuming, of course, that the hearing loss was caused by an obstructive wax buildup.

Does anyone remember that absolute torture session from a few years back on TV...? There was this host who underwent some ear cleaning method where they insert a large paper "wick" into your ear and then light it on fire... and supposedly, the vacuum created by the burning oxygen sucks out all the wax...

Does anyone know where one could actually get that done... say, in a city like Chicago? (Or perhaps there's a kit for doing it at home😬)?

Why not just take the straightforward approach... making it faster, easier, and much safer?
The only potential side effect would be some vagus nerve stimulation, which might cause vomiting or a drop in blood pressure due to dizziness... but that's easily managed and doesn't last long once the lavage is finished.

Any general practitioner can flush out your ear for you.
Before they even try that, though, you’ll usually need to spend a few days using some ear drops a couple of times a day (you can grab these over-the-counter at a local CVS or Walgreens for about $2.75) to soften up the wax buildup. For some people, that’s actually all it takes. But if your hearing still feels muffled after that, you just head to the doctor to have them perform a professional rinse.

The rinsing process itself isn't inherently dangerous. The real risk comes if you end up with a doctor who’s a bit careless; if they aren't careful with the syringe, they could potentially damage your eardrum. That’s why it’s so vital to find a physician you truly trust. They typically use lukewarm water for the procedure. Just a heads-up: you’ll probably deal with some ringing in your ears for anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour right after it's done. 😁

You can pick up a Tuljak lighter at any Home Depot, but personally, I’ve always been a little skeptical about those "DIY" type solutions. 🙂

Emily Hayes said:Any general practitioner can flush out your ear for you.
Before they even try that, though, you’ll usually need to spend a few days using some ear drops a couple of times a day (you can grab these over-the-counter at a local CVS or Walgreens for about $2.75) to soften up the wax buildup. For some people, that’s actually all it takes. But if your hearing still feels muffled after that, you just head to the doctor to have them perform a professional rinse.

The rinsing process itself isn't inherently dangerous. The real risk comes if you end up with a doctor who’s a bit careless; if they aren't careful with the syringe, they could potentially damage your eardrum. That’s why it’s so vital to find a physician you truly trust. They typically use lukewarm water for the procedure. Just a heads-up: you’ll probably deal with some ringing in your ears for anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour right after it's done. 😁

You can pick up a Tuljak lighter at any Home Depot, but personally, I’ve always been a little skeptical about those "DIY" type solutions. 🙂

But I've actually never spotted one while shopping at Walmart... where on earth would they keep it? And what does the packaging even look like?

You can find them in any pharmacy, whether you’re hitting up a CVS or one of those specialized holistic shops; it doesn't really matter.

The thing is, I’m low-key terrified of the whole process. I actually tried it, but I just had this massive panic attack thinking some wax was going to drip deep into my ear canal. My mom keeps insisting that it's physically impossible for that to happen, but honestly, I’m still pretty spooked by the idea.

On a side note, I’ve tested this on my dog, and it definitely works—it pulls everything right out. 🙂
(And before anyone starts, we weren't being cruel to the poor thing; she just had some buildup that needed cleaning.)

Kate Cox2 said:But I've actually never spotted one while shopping at Walmart... where on earth would they keep it? And what does the packaging even look like?

I honestly have no clue where you'd find it. 😁
I actually had one right in my hands at Cosmos—you know, that big Walmart's pharmacy aisle.

I mean, how should I know? It’s sort of long and shaped like a little Tuljak. Honestly, you can't even handle this stuff alone; you really need someone there with you. You just stick it in your ear and light it up.

As soon as I skimmed the beginning of the instructions, I decided to just put it back on the shelf and push it deep into the back of my mind.😲

Walter Hayes5 said:You can find them in any pharmacy, whether you’re hitting up a CVS or one of those specialized holistic shops; it doesn't really matter.

The thing is, I’m low-key terrified of the whole process. I actually tried it, but I just had this massive panic attack thinking some wax was going to drip deep into my ear canal. My mom keeps insisting that it's physically impossible for that to happen, but honestly, I’m still pretty spooked by the idea.

On a side note, I’ve tested this on my dog, and it definitely works—it pulls everything right out. 🙂
(And before anyone starts, we weren't being cruel to the poor thing; she just had some buildup that needed cleaning.)

So now all those activist groups are stripping naked in front of labs, and people are doing it right in their own living rooms 🙄

What, did you try putting L'Oréal mascara on him just because his eyes were bothering him? 👎

(For the record, I'm just messing around; I actually think highly of Walter Hayes5, but don't tell him I said that)

Emily Hayes said:So now all those activist groups are stripping naked in front of labs, and people are doing it right in their own living rooms 🙄

What, did you try putting L'Oréal mascara on him just because his eyes were bothering him? 👎

(For the record, I'm just messing around; I actually think highly of Walter Hayes5, but don't tell him I said that)

😘

Kate Cox2 said:Does anyone remember that absolute torture session from a few years back on TV...? There was this host who underwent some ear cleaning method where they insert a large paper "wick" into your ear and then light it on fire... and supposedly, the vacuum created by the burning oxygen sucks out all the wax...

Does anyone know where one could actually get that done... say, in a city like Chicago? (Or perhaps there's a kit for doing it at home😬)?

You can pick that up over at Walmart's. Later. $13 It’s coming.

Look, I’m just saying—you can actually cause permanent damage to your hearing this way. You're basically burning through the Tuljak; the wax starts melting, and if God forbid a drop of that hot wax hits your eardrum, you're looking at a rupture from the heat alone.

What do you all think—does swimming in the ocean actually help?

It might help if your ears feel plugged due to sinus pressure, since it works from the inside out,
but if the issue is external, I’m not so sure. Earwax tends to be quite oily, and I doubt salt can really dissolve it. It might just end up making things worse by trapping seawater in there—in fact, the salt could actually trigger even more wax production. Personally, whenever I’m at the beach, I find myself having to clear my ears way more often.

Outdated methods, rinsing, cauterizing... I had to go in for a rinse once—against my will, because I have a massive phobia of hospitals—and let me tell you, it was anything but pleasant. Dammit, they weren't even using distilled water! Fak, I could end up with a serious infection at this rate!
And honestly, I’m dealing with issues right now. There's this constant ringing in my head, just a nasty sensation. I am not letting that doctor push me around.
I saw an ad on Channel A for some kind of spray to fix these exact problems. You just spray it and you're done! Does anyone happen to know what it was called?

I deal with hearing issues too—not deafness, per se, but this weird pressure builds up in my right ear out of nowhere. It’s like that sensation you get when you’re scuba diving or hiking up a mountain and the pressure shifts, except I don't dive and I'm not exactly scaling the Rockies. I went through all the specialist appointments, and they told me (surprise, surprise!) that my hearing is perfectly fine. I can't seem to make them understand that my hearing is usually great; it's just those specific moments where my right ear plugs up and it feels like my eardrum is about to burst...

Anyway, back to the topic: what should I use to clean them, and how often? Water is a bad idea, using a Tuljak is out, and cotton swabs are off the table... so what's left?

ironseal13 said:I deal with hearing issues too—not deafness, per se, but this weird pressure builds up in my right ear out of nowhere. It’s like that sensation you get when you’re scuba diving or hiking up a mountain and the pressure shifts, except I don't dive and I'm not exactly scaling the Rockies. I went through all the specialist appointments, and they told me (surprise, surprise!) that my hearing is perfectly fine. I can't seem to make them understand that my hearing is usually great; it's just those specific moments where my right ear plugs up and it feels like my eardrum is about to burst...

Anyway, back to the topic: what should I use to clean them, and how often? Water is a bad idea, using a Tuljak is out, and cotton swabs are off the table... so what's left?

I mentioned a specific product earlier, but I'm not sure if it's actually available here in the States. I have to run to the pharmacy urgently today, so I'll check and see if they carry it!

So, has anyone here actually gone through hearing surgery? Or maybe there's someone who could walk me through what the deal is and what kind of results I should realistically expect? My hearing hasn't been great for quite a while now, but I’ve reached the point where I want to fix it—or at least give it a shot. Is that even a thing? And if surgery isn't on the table, does anyone know much about hearing aids? I'm looking for something practically invisible; I did some digging and apparently the smallest option is a CIC model. I've also heard rumors about those glasses that have built-in hearing aids, but I'm assuming they aren't even available here in the States? Does anyone actually know anything more about this?