Try: Earwax is a self-cleaning agent produced in the ears that acts as a lubricating and antibacterial protector to the ears earwax is not really a wax but a water-soluble mixture of secretions produced in the outer third of the ear canal it also contains hair and dead skin earwax builds up in the outer one-third of the ear canal it naturally works its way out of the ear when a person moves his her jaw while talking and chewing too much earwax can damage hearing aids earwax build up in the ear canal can cause the hearing aid to fit poorly and not seal properly when this happens the hearing aid will produce feedback too much earwax can also damage the hearing aid sixty to seventy percent of all hearing aids sent for repair are damaged due to earwax build up on the device treatment hearing aid users should have their ears checked about every 3 months if earwax build up is found there are a variety of techniques to help resolve the problem these include flushing the ear with wax-dissolving agents like water or saline using irrigation or ear syringing manual removal with special instruments or a suction device used when someone has a narrow ear canals eardrum perforation or tube or immune deficiency information references "earwax and hearing aids" by the american academy of otolaryngology head and neck surgery available at

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Communication, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Ears earwax hearing hearing aids

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed