[Teerawit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xnor /img/forum/go_quote.gif read this: "Chronic Q-tip use creates dryness in the sensitive ear canal. Dry skin itches. People with itchy ears use Q-tips (and other found objects) to scratch them. The scratching causes itching. Do you see the cycle here? Eventually, the damaged skin will break down and crack, allowing opportunistic bacteria or yucky fungus to invade. Congratulations. You have caused otitis externa, also known as Swimmer's Ear. Speaking of swimmers, chronic water exposure can wash out all of the protective wax, too, causing the water to remain in the ear canal. In order to remove the water, people will use Q-tips, or put drops of drying alcohol in the ear canal, often making the matters worse." -- from webmd I experienced this myself. Not using q-tips after every shower actually stopped the itching in my right ear. Also I don't have large chunks or pieces of earwax so q-tips work perfectly fine for me (there's no pushing back of earwax into the ear canal). Been at the doc a few weeks ago and he said that everything's fine - and I have never used anything else but hot water and q-tips to clean my ears.

Thanks for the concern, but trust me, I don't have otitis externa (I'm a med student

) and I know where to draw the line with the picking. My itchiness is caused by my dry and flaky earwax, not dry skin. BTW I've never used Q-tips before in my life, but rather the ear picks from Asia. These don't push the wax down into the canal, but rather scrape the wax out.

 

[rhythmdevils]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega /img/forum/go_quote.gif Never put anything smaller than your elbow into your ear.

yes

 

[xnor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teerawit /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks for the concern, but trust me, I don't have otitis externa (I'm a med student ) and I know where to draw the line with the picking. My itchiness is caused by my dry and flaky earwax, not dry skin. BTW I've never used Q-tips before in my life, but rather the ear picks from Asia. These don't push the wax down into the canal, but rather scrape the wax out.

I also don't have or didn't have that disease but I had itchy ears most probably due to the reasons I posted. And again, there's no wax pushed down into my ear canal. Q-tips may not work for some people but for me they do work nicely.

 

[n1div]

Wow, I didn't think this post would generate so many comments/responses.

Anyways, here's my take on a few comments made.

Q-tip can only be good if you are just cleaning around the opening of the ears and not actually pushing things into your ear canal. Hard to explain the technique but I only swirl around the barrel of the ear canal and never push into the ear drum area.

Ear scoops/spoons commonly found in Asian stores. I have to admit I use to use this when I was younger but it only takes a slip or someone that doesn't know the proper technique to put your ear drums in danger. Better to play it safe and get it professionaly cleaned. The vacuum WILL take out stuff that the typical Asian ear scoop/spoon can't get to.

All you have to do is schedule an appointment for and ENT specialists. Do not go to a regular doctor as they won't be able to do this. $20-$30 copay is probably the average someone will pay if they have insurance. Expect the process to take between 1-2 hours.

Generally, the ENT will check out your ears with a ear microsope and if a good amount of wax is found, they'll break out the wax vacuum. After vacumming, you will go into an anechoic room to get a series of hearing tests done. The doctor will review them with you afterwards and give you any news, good or bad.

As for someone asking what profession needs regular cleaning, one I can think of off the bat is an audio engineer. They're main tool is their ears in their profession. They are only as good as their ears.

Another minor thing I'd like to report is I'm discovering new(old) sounds again. I was just sanding something the other day and even the sound of the sandpaper scratching against a surface sounds different to me. Quite remarkable on the smallest things making a noticeable impact on your daily life.

 

[TheAudioDude]

I stopped using Q-Tips a long time ago; now I only use the ear cleaning solution you can buy in stores, it's called Debrox. Tilt your head, put about ten drops in, then wait 5 minutes (with your head still tilted of course) or so and flush it all out with a bulb, then repeat for the other ear. I do it about once a month and it works really well; my ears feel much cleaner/less congested afterwards.

 

[rxxdoc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punnisher /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hah. I bet that most members have clogged ears and don't even know it.

What?

 

[Armaegis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega /img/forum/go_quote.gif Never put anything smaller than your elbow into your ear.

What about other people's ears? I'm searching for an appropriate smiley... ah here it is