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Sarah had been wearing hearing aids for three years when she came to see me. Her devices had been working beautifully, transforming her quality of life and reconnecting her with conversations she'd been missing. But over the past few months, something had changed. The hearing aids weren't working as well. Sounds seemed muffled again. She'd been back to her audiologist twice to have the devices adjusted, but the improvements never lasted more than a few days.
When I looked in her ears, the problem was immediately obvious. Both ear canals were completely blocked with wax. The hearing aids were sitting in this wax, their microphones and receivers clogged. No amount of programming adjustment could fix that.
We removed the wax with microsuction. Sarah's hearing improved instantly—not just back to what it had been, but better than it had been in months. Her hearing aids, no longer fighting through a barrier of wax, worked perfectly again.
"Why didn't anyone tell me this would happen?" she asked.
It's a question I hear often. The relationship between hearing aids and earwax is something many people only discover after problems develop. But understanding this connection can help you prevent issues and keep both your ears and your hearing aids working optimally.
Why Hearing Aids Increase Earwax Problems
Your ears produce wax naturally. It's a protective substance that keeps your ear canal healthy, moisturised, and free from infection. In most people, this wax migrates out of the ear canal naturally, carried along by the slow outward growth of skin cells. You don't notice it happening—it just works.
Hearing aids interfere with this natural process in several ways.
The device sits in your ear canal, creating a physical barrier that blocks the outward migration of wax. The wax that should be moving towards the opening of your ear canal is now trapped behind or around the hearing aid. It accumulates over time, building up in ways it never would in an ear without a hearing aid.
Hearing aids also stimulate wax production. The presence of a foreign object in your ear canal triggers your ceruminous glands to produce more wax. It's a protective response—your body is trying to keep your ear canal lubricated and protected despite the presence of the device. The result is that you're producing more wax and it's being trapped more effectively. It's a perfect storm for wax buildup.
The occlusion effect compounds the problem. When your ear canal is blocked by a hearing aid, moisture and heat build up. This changes the consistency of your earwax, often making it softer and stickier. Whilst this might sound like it would help the wax move out more easily, it actually makes it more likely to cling to the walls of your ear canal and to your hearing aid.
How Wax Affects Hearing Aid Performance
Earwax and hearing aids don't mix well. The wax can affect your devices in several ways, all of them problematic.
The most obvious issue is sound quality. When wax blocks your ear canal, sound can't reach your eardrum properly. Your hearing aid is amplifying sound beautifully, but that sound is being muffled by the wax barrier before it reaches your eardrum. You might think your hearing has worsened or that your hearing aids need adjusting, when actually the problem is simply wax buildup.
Wax can also clog the components of your hearing aid itself. The receiver (the part that delivers sound into your ear) can become blocked with wax. The microphone openings can get clogged. Vents designed to equalise pressure and improve sound quality can become obstructed. When these components are blocked, your hearing aid can't function properly, regardless of how well it's programmed.
Feedback problems often develop when wax is involved. The whistling or squealing sound that sometimes comes from hearing aids can be triggered or worsened by wax buildup. The wax changes the acoustics of your ear canal, causing sound to leak back to the microphone and create feedback loops.
Device damage represents a more serious concern. Earwax is slightly acidic and contains enzymes. Over time, exposure to wax can corrode the delicate electronic components of your hearing aid, particularly the receiver. This type of damage isn't always covered by warranty, and repairs can be expensive. Regular wax buildup that's allowed to contact your hearing aid repeatedly can significantly shorten the device's lifespan.
Recognising the Signs
How do you know if earwax is affecting your hearing aids? Several signs can alert you to the problem.
Reduced sound quality is usually the first indication. Your hearing aids don't seem as clear or as loud as they used to be. You find yourself turning up the volume more than usual. Speech sounds muffled or unclear, even in quiet environments where your hearing aids normally work well.
Intermittent function can indicate wax problems. Your hearing aids work fine sometimes but cut out or sound distorted at other times. The performance varies from day to day or even hour to hour. This inconsistency often reflects wax moving around in your ear canal or gradually building up on the hearing aid components.
Increased feedback suggests that something has changed in your ear canal. If your hearing aids suddenly start whistling when they didn't before, wax buildup is a likely cause. The wax changes how sound reflects in your ear canal, creating the conditions for feedback.
Physical discomfort can develop when wax builds up around your hearing aid. Your ear might feel full, blocked, or uncomfortable. The hearing aid might not fit as well as it used to, feeling tighter or more intrusive. These sensations indicate that wax is taking up space in your ear canal that should be available for the hearing aid.
Visible wax on your hearing aid when you remove it is an obvious sign. If you see wax on the receiver, in the vents, or around the shell of your device, wax is definitely present in your ear canal and likely affecting performance.
Prevention Strategies
Whilst you can't completely prevent earwax buildup when wearing hearing aids, you can take steps to minimise problems.
Daily hearing aid maintenance makes a significant difference. Each night when you remove your hearing aids, clean them according to the manufacturer's instructions. Use the cleaning tools provided with your devices to remove any visible wax from the receiver, vents, and shell. This prevents wax from hardening on your devices and reduces the amount of wax that gets pushed back into your ear canal when you reinsert them.
Proper insertion technique helps prevent wax impaction. When you put your hearing aids in, do so gently and carefully. Don't force them or push them in too deeply. Rough insertion can push wax deeper into your ear canal, creating impaction that wouldn't otherwise occur.
Regular professional ear checks should become part of your routine. Many hearing aid users benefit from having their ears checked and cleaned every three to six months, even if they're not experiencing obvious problems. This preventive approach catches wax buildup early, before it affects your hearing or damages your devices.
Some people find that using olive oil drops once or twice a week helps keep their earwax soft and mobile. A few drops in each ear before bed can prevent wax from becoming hard and impacted. However, don't use oil drops if you have a perforated eardrum, ear infection, or if your audiologist has advised against it. And never use drops immediately before putting your hearing aids in—the oil can damage the devices.
Avoid cotton buds completely. The temptation to clean your ears with cotton buds increases when you're wearing hearing aids, but this is one of the worst things you can do. Cotton buds push wax deeper, create impaction, and can damage your ear canal. If you're concerned about wax, seek professional cleaning rather than attempting DIY removal.
Professional Ear Cleaning for Hearing Aid Users
Regular professional ear cleaning becomes particularly important when you wear hearing aids. The increased wax production and reduced natural clearance mean that many hearing aid users need professional help to keep their ears clear.
Microsuction is the preferred method for hearing aid users. This technique uses gentle suction to remove wax under direct vision, without introducing water into your ear canal. It's quick, comfortable, and immediately effective. You can wear your hearing aids again as soon as the procedure is complete—there's no waiting period for water to drain or for drops to work.
The timing of professional cleaning matters. Don't wait until you're experiencing significant symptoms or until your hearing aids have stopped working. Regular preventive cleaning—every three to six months for most hearing aid users—keeps problems from developing and protects your expensive devices from wax damage.
Some hearing aid users need more frequent cleaning than others. If you produce a lot of wax, have narrow or curved ear canals, or wear your hearing aids for many hours each day, you might need professional cleaning every two to three months. Your ear care practitioner can advise on the right frequency for your individual situation.
Coordinating Care Between Providers
Wearing hearing aids means you're working with multiple healthcare providers—your audiologist for the hearing aids, your GP for general health, and potentially an ear care specialist for wax removal. Coordinating between these providers ensures you receive the best possible care.
Let your audiologist know if you're prone to wax buildup or if you're having regular professional ear cleaning. They can check your ears at each appointment and adjust your hearing aid maintenance routine if needed. Some audiology practices offer ear wax removal services themselves, which can be convenient for coordinating care.
Inform your ear care practitioner that you wear hearing aids. This allows them to take extra care around your ear canal and to check for any issues that might affect your hearing aid fit or function. They can also advise on how often you should schedule cleaning appointments based on your individual wax production and hearing aid use.
If you're experiencing persistent problems with wax buildup despite regular cleaning, discuss this with your audiologist. Sometimes, changing to a different style of hearing aid or adjusting the fit can reduce wax-related issues. For example, receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids may cause fewer wax problems than completely-in-canal (CIC) devices for some people.
Special Considerations for Different Hearing Aid Styles
Different types of hearing aids interact with earwax in different ways, and the management strategies vary accordingly.
Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids with ear moulds can trap wax between the mould and your ear canal. The mould itself can become coated with wax, affecting sound quality and comfort. Regular cleaning of both your ears and your ear moulds is important. The moulds should be washed regularly with mild soap and water, dried thoroughly, and checked for wax buildup in the sound bore.
Receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids place the receiver directly in your ear canal, making it particularly vulnerable to wax damage. The wax guards (small filters that protect the receiver) need to be changed regularly—often monthly or even more frequently if you produce a lot of wax. Your audiologist can show you how to change these guards yourself, or you can have them changed at your regular appointments.
In-the-ear (ITE) and completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids sit entirely within your ear canal, creating maximum occlusion and potentially causing the most wax-related problems. Users of these devices often need more frequent professional ear cleaning. The devices themselves require meticulous daily cleaning to prevent wax from damaging the components.
When Wax Removal Becomes Urgent
Sometimes, earwax buildup in hearing aid users requires urgent attention rather than waiting for a scheduled appointment.
Sudden hearing loss that's significantly worse than your baseline hearing needs prompt assessment. Whilst it might be wax, it could also indicate a problem with your hearing itself or with your hearing aid. Don't assume it's just wax without having it checked.
Pain or discharge from your ear requires immediate attention. These symptoms suggest infection, which can develop when wax traps moisture and bacteria in your ear canal. Continuing to wear your hearing aids with an active ear infection can make the problem worse.
Complete hearing aid failure that doesn't resolve with cleaning and battery changes might indicate severe wax blockage. If your devices have stopped working entirely and you can't see an obvious cause, have your ears checked before assuming the hearing aids need repair.
Dizziness or balance problems that develop alongside wax buildup should be assessed promptly. Whilst earwax can cause mild dizziness, severe or persistent balance problems need professional evaluation to rule out other causes.
Living Successfully with Hearing Aids and Managing Wax
The relationship between hearing aids and earwax doesn't have to be problematic. With understanding, regular maintenance, and professional support when needed, you can keep both your ears and your hearing aids in optimal condition.
Think of ear care as part of your hearing aid routine. Just as you clean your devices daily, check batteries regularly, and attend audiology appointments, regular ear checks and professional wax removal become part of maintaining your hearing health. It's not an inconvenience—it's an investment in getting the best possible performance from your hearing aids and protecting your expensive devices from damage.
Many hearing aid users find that once they establish a regular ear care routine, wax problems become rare. The key is staying ahead of issues rather than waiting for problems to develop. Preventive care is always easier and more effective than reactive treatment.
Your hearing aids have transformed your quality of life. Don't let earwax compromise that transformation. With proper care and regular professional support, you can enjoy clear, comfortable hearing for years to come.
If you wear hearing aids and you're experiencing any of the issues we've discussed, or if you simply want to establish a preventive ear care routine, book an appointment with us today. We specialise in ear care for hearing aid users and understand the unique challenges you face. Let us help you keep your ears and your hearing aids working perfectly together.
