“Can using ear cleansing liquids cause hearing loss?”
My mother uses a ear wax dissolving liquid to clean her ears, but she seems to be losing more and more of her hearing. Could this be because of the ear cleaner she's using?
5 Answers
Hello,
Yes, it's possible if the liquid is still in the ear canal or melting the wax.
Dr. Desai
Yes, it's possible if the liquid is still in the ear canal or melting the wax.
Dr. Desai
It is unlikely to be the source of her hearing loss. However, liquid should not be placed into the ear if there is active infection in or around the ear, or in situations where the tympanic membrane (eardrum) may have a perforation in it or is not otherwise intact.
I recommend that your mother see an ear nose and throat physician for an examination and have a hearing test done at the same time with an audiologist.
I recommend that your mother see an ear nose and throat physician for an examination and have a hearing test done at the same time with an audiologist.
If hearing worsens after this type of cleaning product, it is usually becoming more blocked. This is because the solution begins to dissolve the wax, making it more of a "syrup or paste" than dry wax and tends to settle more toward the ear drum, sometimes making the hearing worse. If the hearing has worsened, then this needs a careful inspection by an ENT surgeon and usually a gentle vacuum clean to fully clear the ear canal. If this does not resolve the problem, then further testing may be required.
Dr. Matthew S. Broadhurst, BMBS, FRACS
Dr. Matthew S. Broadhurst, BMBS, FRACS
These liquids work by melting the wax so it becomes soft. You must remove it then or it will accumulate in the canal and produce a conductive hearing loss. Take her to her doctor to clean her ears an make her stop touching her ears or putting anything in them
Not usually, if used as directed. Overuse can lead to chemical burns, eardrum perforation, infection, or emulsification of cerumen.
