[n1div]

Sorry if this has been discussed or is a repost but I would just like to remind and emphasize on this subject.

So over time, my right side ear has gradually diminished in high frequencies and I thought it was my fair share of concerts/clubs/loud music(when I was younger) and just getting old.

Then a few weeks ago, I got a nasty cold and when I blew my nose, my ears popped and I got some high frequencies back in my right ear for a short while(a day or so). I then knew something else was causing my high frequency loss and there might be something I can do about it.

Well fast forward to a few days ago when I went into the ENT specialist. They found wax buildup and sucked it out with a mini vac. I couldn't believe some of the large chunks that came out. They followed it up with a series of audio tests including frequency and intelligibility test and came back with very good results.

Now I've always used q-tips to clean my ears every day and also tried those home wax removal solutions but some wax is just stuck in there and I'm confident now that only those professional vacs used by ENT specialists can get some of the stubborn wax out.

The doctor recommended I come in every year for a checkup and cleaning session which I plan on doing just to make sure my hearing is still up to par.


IMO, EVERYONE that is an audiophile should do this. Even if you think your hearing is good, you can back it up with all the tests they conduct and know you spending hundreds on equipement is justified more so.

Best $30 I spent to get back 3-4k worth of upper end. Why spend hundreds on headphones if your ears are less than perfect or you simply don't know if they are?

 

[fenixdown110]

Very good point. I need to get this done as well.

 

[adrift]

Did you get to keep it?!

 

[fenixdown110]

ewww... But still doesn't beat tonsil stones. Those things can get enormous.

 

[etiolate]

I experience a similar sensation every once in a while like 2 weeks after I fly somewhere... My ears get pressurized and I forget how well I can hear until they pop long after.

Btw, I always have produced a lot of ear wax since I was young (not like, pouring out amount of ear wax, but enough to have to clean my ears at least twice a week or else I'll notice it). So, I may have to try this ear wax vac sometime...

 

[b0dhi]

I had a similar thing happen to me too, except for tinnitus. I thought it was permanent tinnitus, but one time after a shower I was q-tipping my ears and there was a pop and all of a sudden the tinnitus was completely gone in that ear for about 3 days.

I'm definitely making an appointment.

 

[Graphicism]

Certainly worth doing but I just want to point out to you q-tippers, what you're doing is pushing the wax back down your ear canal and thats where the build up occurs. Don't use q-tips for cleaning your ears, wax is normal and it will come out on it's own, clean your ears in the shower with hot water nothing else.

 

[Punnisher]

Good idea. I try to rinse my ears out regularly with lukewarm water but haven't in a while. This has always been in the back of my mind, especially after seeing large chunks of wax that come out.

Even rinsing is difficult to do. Sometimes, I need to rinse one night just to get the wax softened, then again the next day to remove it.

It's gross, but I have seen chunks as big as a pea come out. Normally they're very dark in color. That can't be good for our hearing.

 

[fenixdown110]

I wish I hadn't read that. LOL

 

[Punnisher]

Hah. I bet that most members have clogged ears and don't even know it.

 

[Steve Eddy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenixdown110 /img/forum/go_quote.gif ewww... But still doesn't beat tonsil stones. Those things can get enormous.

Are those those hard, yellowish chunks with the bitter taste?

se

 

[nycdoi]

most of the wax came out along with my ear impressions.

 

[Uncle Erik]

Q-Tips can only push a large chunk in if there's a large chunk to begin with. Otherwise, they work great. Every few months, I'll do a deep cleaning with hydrogen peroxide, followed by lots of rinsing and Q-Tips. Every day, I rinse out in the shower and follow with Q-Tips. There aren't any large pieces to push in.

 

[Wmcmanus]

I ear cande from time to time, probably once per year or so. Should do it more often, I suppose, but seldom think of it.

 

[Graphicism]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif Q-Tips can only push a large chunk in if there's a large chunk to begin with. Otherwise, they work great.

Thats the general misunderstanding; unless the q-tip is traveling all the way down to the eardrum and cleaning that direction (which is extremely dangerous) you are only poking the hole.