[DCofficehack]

I thought I should share:
 
I've been a HEAVY IEM user since I bought a pair of DBA-002s a while back. I use them at work, and when I am doing a lot of intense work, I use them constantly. Sometimes I have them in all day and then more at night when I light up the laptop to do more work in the evening.
 
Anyway, I just had to go to the doctor for a second time in two years to get my ears irrigated because of "impacted ear wax." Basically, I had lost hearing and clearly had stuff plugging the ears up...the doctor put hydrogen peroxide in my ears and then flushed them out with a big syringe full of warm water, over and over again until big globs came out...
 
No permanent damage, but the doc says I need to cut it out with IEMs. She said that sticking things in your ears is ok occasionally, but only that. So the Fischers must now be relegated to travel kit, and the hunt for a big circumaural set of cans has begun...
 
Bottom line: Everything in moderation.

 

[goodvibes]

Or you could gently clean your ears with drops every few month and not wait until you're that plugged up.

 

[helllooooooo]

that title is so dramatic
 
it's as if you will never be able to listen to IEMS again
 
just be glad that you can still use them
 
you should always clear your ears out regularly

 

[goodvibes]

Not so much. Only if it's a recurring issue. The wax os there for good reason. Only when it doesn't evacuate by itself or is excessive does one need to react.

 

[tnounsy]

good to hear you are not permanently losing your hearing, still it is quite shocking to imagine having earwax built up for so long without any action taken that you ear canals are clogged....
 
i use ear drops once a month and haven't had any issue with earwax even when taking impressions

 

[DCofficehack]

Given that one's ears should never require any maintenance like drops, I figure that, on principle, anything that would oblige me to do some sort of intervention--even something as banal as occasional drops--is a bad idea. So, let's save the IEMs for occasional use only.
 
I have to admit that while having my ears irrigated was really unpleasant (the sound/feeling of having water pushed through a big syringe directly into one's ear canal is not something one wants to experience), it was really cool how, once the blockage was cleared, all of a sudden a whole bunch of frequencies came live. Upper register stuff that I didn't realize I had been missing. My first impression of the doctor's voice was that suddenly it had become sibilant! That calmed down before a minute was over. Still, it was cool.  My father told me he had had a similar experience when he had cataract surgery, and the doc put in what are basically artificial eye lenses. Our eyes yellow with age but we never know it because it's so gradual over our lifetime. Suddenly swapping them out for lenses as clear as what we were born with meant that he was seeing color suddenly but significantly differently. 
 
Anyway, the good news is that I now have an excuse to go full-size headphone shopping 

 

[Spyro]

Doc might want to put the bong down.  Saying you can never listen to music again with earphones is preposterous.  That is just crazy.
 
That would be like saying, because you have back problems, you should never exercise again.

 

[jay-w]

  Given that one's ears should never require any maintenance like drops

 
Erm who told you that? Impacted ear wax is a sign that you did need maintenance.
 
You still need to keep your ears clean and healthy like every other part of your body. If you're a swimmer or spend time in the water you regularly use drops to keep them dry and free from infection. If you've got allergies like hayfever antihistamines, nasal sprays and ear drops can keep you sane and healthy. 

 

[spook76]

Doc might want to put the bong down.  Saying you can never listen to music again with earphones is preposterous.  That is just crazy.

That would be like saying, because you have back problems, you should never exercise again.

Spyro, so in addition to all your other "talents" you are now a board certified ENT doctor? A doctor examined his ears, knows his medical history and came to learned opinion and you have the temerity to question the doctor's advice based upon what, omniscient? The doctor did not say completely eliminate IEMs but use them in moderation.

 

[germanturkey]

you should be cleaning your ears periodically anyways.

 

[H T T]

  Doc might want to put the bong down.  Saying you can never listen to music again with earphones is preposterous.  That is just crazy.
 
That would be like saying, because you have back problems, you should never exercise again.

 
Being a medical professional myself, but not an ENT, I think your dismissing of DCofficehack's doctor's advice is irresponsible. The medical advice sounds quite measured. If you have the qualifications and you have seen inside of DCofficehack's ears, then you can question. 
 
@DCofficehack: ears are like inny belly buttons, but worse. Ears produce wax. Some people make a lot, some not so much. Some have wet oily wax, some dry wax. Some in different mixtures. Belly buttons become sweaty, they slough off dead skin, and collect lint. If you clean out your belly button don't you think you need to get rid of wax in your ear, periodically?

 

[B9Scrambler]

Being a medical professional myself, but not an ENT, I think your dismissing of DCofficehack's doctor's advice is irresponsible. The medical advice sounds quite measured. If you have the qualifications and you have seen inside of DCofficehack's ears, then you can question. 

@DCofficehack: ears are like inny belly buttons, but worse. Ears produce wax. Some people make a lot, some not so much. Some have wet oily wax, some dry wax. Some in different mixtures. Belly buttons become sweaty, they slough off dead skin, and collect lint. If you clean out your belly button don't you think you need to get rid of wax in your ear, periodically?

I have never once thought to clean my belly button..... Ugh.....can't imagine what's festering in there :s

 

[p4s2p0]

I just take more time cleaning my ears when I use my urbeats a lot. Just as we do bathing or washing our hands when we get dirty more frequently sometimes. After skateboarding I always shower. Though I do plan on getting some over the heads someday after not having a pair for so many years. I tried skullcandy crushers but those were missing so many bass notes compared to my beats so I sold them to a friend

 

[tnounsy]

I use ear drops regularly and have my ears examined and cleaned by an ENT specialist every 2-3 years, and what he told me was 'your ears are very healthy, enjoy your music'
so really, no need to fear for using some maintenance when necessary. yes your ears do evacuate earwax automatically but it does not mean anything else is harmful. don't you use sunblock when going to the beach?

 

[davidcotton]

My ears are a nightmare for wax.  I can guarantee that after about 6 months or so I will need a clean out.  Either six months or so or a heavy cold.  To make it worse the drops actually cause the blockage to get worse before I have them done.  Something to do with the narrowness and angle of my right ear canal.