Hearing loss support

Author

Waxy ears

David Nussbaum

2005-06-01, 11:51 am

Hi everyone,

I have been wearing hearing aids since the age of two (I have a severe
hearing loss), and over the last five years or so, I've been having a
fairly substantial problem. When I first put on my hearing aids, the
sound is fine - but after about two hours of wearing them, there's so
much wax in my ears, that the sound quality actually changes (it becomes
tinny and hollow). So, throughout the day, I am forced to clean both my
ears and hearing aids to remove the wax. This is an exceedingly
irritating problem, but nobody seems to have a clue what I'm talking about.

I have confronted several doctors, ENT specialists, and audiologists
about this problem, but none of them have had a clue what I was talking
about. Hopefully someone here will have some idea about this...

Thanks in advance (please post any replies here).

David

Pete Wilcox

2005-06-01, 11:51 am

On Wed, 1 Jun 2005, David Nussbaum wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> I have been wearing hearing aids since the age of two (I have a severe
> hearing loss), and over the last five years or so, I've been having a
> fairly substantial problem. When I first put on my hearing aids, the
> sound is fine - but after about two hours of wearing them, there's so
> much wax in my ears, that the sound quality actually changes (it becomes
> tinny and hollow). So, throughout the day, I am forced to clean both my
> ears and hearing aids to remove the wax. This is an exceedingly
> irritating problem, but nobody seems to have a clue what I'm talking about.
>
> I have confronted several doctors, ENT specialists, and audiologists
> about this problem, but none of them have had a clue what I was talking
> about. Hopefully someone here will have some idea about this...
>
> Thanks in advance (please post any replies here).
>
> David
>
>
I suspect that this isn't just a problem with earwax buildup, but a
mixture of earwax and sweat. I can't wear my aids for more than 2-3 hours
without a buildup of sweat gathering in the ear canals either. Don't know
what you can do to effect a long term cure though; like you I just remove
the aids and de-gunk whenever the buildup becomes annoying.

Pete.

David Nussbaum

2005-06-01, 5:51 pm

Hi Pete,

Thanks for the speedy reply.

The problem is, though, it seems to be getting worse. I'll take off and
clean my aids and ears right before a movie, and about an hour in, the
problems begin.

I'm wondering if a new pair of molds might help; I've had mine for over
five years now...

Thanks again,

David

Ken

2005-06-01, 10:51 pm

All users of hearing aids experience varying problems with earwax and
your problem may be simply the extreme end of the range. Earwax seems
to be generated constantly by our ears - presumably it performs some
function - analogous to dandruff or skin exfoliation - both similarly
continuing processes.

I don't know how old you are - I am beyond the 'threescore years and
ten' - but I have learnt to tolerate and cope with the demands my body
places on me.

I would, in your situation, certainly seek expert help. In the meantime
I would clean my molds as often as necessary to keep hearing.

I doubt that new molds would make any difference. (but what do I know?
I am a fellow aid-wearer - not an expert)

Our bodies usually signal serious problems by generating pain. In the
absence of this signal I would, as I say, continue to seek expert help
but, meanwhile, respond by more frequent clearing of molds. If no
expert explanation emerges you may well find that the problem resolves
itself.

I certainly hope so. Best wishes.

Wayne Boatwright

2005-06-02, 8:52 am

On Wed 01 Jun 2005 07:04:59a, David Nussbaum wrote in
alt.support.hearing-loss:

> Hi everyone,
>
> I have been wearing hearing aids since the age of two (I have a severe
> hearing loss), and over the last five years or so, I've been having a
> fairly substantial problem. When I first put on my hearing aids, the
> sound is fine - but after about two hours of wearing them, there's so
> much wax in my ears, that the sound quality actually changes (it becomes
> tinny and hollow). So, throughout the day, I am forced to clean both my
> ears and hearing aids to remove the wax. This is an exceedingly
> irritating problem, but nobody seems to have a clue what I'm talking
> about.
>
> I have confronted several doctors, ENT specialists, and audiologists
> about this problem, but none of them have had a clue what I was talking
> about. Hopefully someone here will have some idea about this...
>
> Thanks in advance (please post any replies here).
>
> David

You might try cleaning your ear canals with a mixture of alcohol and
peroxide.

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
____________________________________________

Give me a smart idiot over a stupid genius any day.
Sam Goldwyn, 1882-1974

pellmellwillynilly@hotmail.com

2005-06-08, 10:54 pm

Hey, David.

Just an idea here. When I was in college, I had a roommate who claimed
that her grain allergies caused her to produce excessive earwax. Hers
wasn't as prolific as yours (she also didn't have earmolds to encourage
sweat and wax buildup), but she still had to clean her ears out every
night.

I'm one of many adults I know who have developed allergies or had them
dramatically worsen in midlife. Think it's possible that you've
developed allergies or had them worsen, and this excess wax might be
the main symptom you're getting?

Pell