You may have had earwax removed recently and are wondering whether your hearing is back to normal or if there are other issues that need to be addressed.
A build-up of earwax in the ear canal can affect your hearing and also affect the results of an audiogram. The wax can muffle the sounds that reach your eardrum and cause your results to appear worse than they actually are. For this reason it is best to have your hearing tested after the ear canal has fully cleared of any muck that may have been present due to the wax blockage. This can cause temporary symptoms of a muffled hearing, tinnitus and a sensation of blockage in the ear.
How Long to Wait
A general rule of thumb within the audiology field is to wait five to seven days after earwax removal before conducting a hearing test. This is to allow any remaining irritation from the ear canal to settle, as well as any excess fluid or inflammation to clear. If microsuction was used then it is generally recommended to wait at the lower end of this time frame.
Signs the Ear Has Settled
When your ear has returned to normal after having earwax removed it should no longer feel blocked, sounds should be clear and should be perceived as being equally strong from both ears. Any tinnitus that has occurred after wax removal should also have disappeared by now. Providing this has occurred within a week or so, it is then time to book a hearing test.
When to Skip the Wait
Similarly if you had wax removed from one ear and after 10 days the hearing in that ear is still muffled and not as equal to the other ear, then it is advisable to book a hearing test without delay. The reason for this is that the muffled hearing could be due to a build up of wax again or other reasons such as fluid behind the eardrum or even age related hearing loss and an audiologist will be able to diagnose the cause of your hearing symptoms.
So there you have it – a few simple points to check your hearing after earwax removal, and ensure that your ears have fully returned to normal. If your ears feel fine after a week or so, then a short wait and a proper test will soon reveal exactly where you are with your hearing.
