Earwax is natural substance produced by your body to help protect your ears. It’s normally self maintaining and will usually fall out of the ear on its own when your jaw moves with chewing and talking. However, many people who wear hearing aids often report problems of ear wax build up more quickly than those who don’t wear hearing devices. This is because hearing aids can stop the ear wax from falling out and can end up pushing this back into the ears causing a blockage.
Hearing aids can sometimes increase the amount of wax your ears produce. This is because your body recognises the hearing aid as a foreign object and will try to protect the ears by producing more wax. This can then ultimately lead to earwax buildup over time.
Wearing hearing aids can increase the amount of moisture trapped in your ears due to becoming warm and nowhere for the air to vent. This moisture can make earwax soft and sticky, causing the earwax to become more prone to blockages.
If you use hearing aids should ensure you take certain precautions in keeping your ears free from ear wax build up and keep your hearing aids working well. You should regularly clean the hearing aids as instructed by your healthcare provider and check your ears regularly for any unusual symptoms. If you’re unsure on how to maintain your hearing aids and ear health, seeking help and advice from a professional with routine appointments can help keep your ears healthy.
