Ear Facts

Hard Wax

Soft Wax

The ear canal skin moves at the rate of 33mm each year shedding dead skin cells which become part of the ear wax situated at the entrance of the ear canal. Attempted self clearing the ears just pushes the wax back down the ear canal and can result in a feeling of deafness and discomfort if the wax is pushed against the ear drum.

Wax contains fatty acids which are found in fatty foods it also contains sweat. Consider what may cause you to produce excess ear wax. (Roeser & Ballachanda, 1997)

Perhaps your parents had excess wax problems so the problem for you may be found in your genes (we can't do much about this except be aware that like your teeth, your ears also require a regular check-up).

Rubbing the ear canal with implements can stimulate the glands to make more wax!! A normal amount of ear wax is healthy as the skin of the ear canal depends on the ear wax for lubrication, protection against bacteria and prevention of insects and dust getting into the ear.

Ear irrigation (old fashioned ear syringing) is only one way to remove wax from the ear canal.  IT IS NOT ALWAYS THE ANSWER FOR DEAFNESS.  Nurses trained in ear care can often clear ears without using water irrigation

Wet, warm, dark places encourage bacteria and fungus to grow. If you have problem ears keep them as dry as possible (See ear care page)

FEAR of ear infections and hearing loss may stop you from solving the problem.  Talking with someone who can give advice often dispels fears and provides improved understanding on which to base future decisions.

NOISE can damage your ears permanently but very slowly and you may not realise the loss until it is too late.  1 in 5 people have hearing loss (RNID).  The hearing organ (Cochlea) is the size of a winkle shell and contains 20'000 hairs which tell your brain different sounds by wafting on a membrane and producing an electrical impulse which is taken to the brain to be translated.  Regular loud noise can wear these hairs down and they do not grow again.

The middle ear space behind the ear drum, where children frequently have infections (Acute Otitis Media) is only 2mm across the centre, 6mm across the top and 4mm across the base. In this space there are 3 little bones which help pass the sound through the ear.  These bones are only 0.6mm wide and have joints with each other like your knee or elbow joint.

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