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Any advice for cleaning a 88 years ears out? She says she can’t hear much and tried a q-tip, but didn’t get anything. Anyone else have advice what to try?
I really don't think Barb ever intends to make anyone posting here feel stupid. She is very caring and gives sound advice. I am sorry you don't have access to Urgent Care. I hope you find a solution.
Q-tips are only for cleaning the outer ear and should never be inserted more than a fraction (if that). If there is hearing loss due to wax build up you could try some of the over the counter products that soften wax so it works it's way out naturally, a drop of peroxide or olive oil is also sometimes recommended. But Barb is right that you should really take the problem to a doctor, they can flush out the wax with a syringe or with a special loop.
You can buy an ear syringe at CVS, it’s totally safe to use, and flush the ear yourself if she will let you. My ear got plugged with wax to the point I couldn’t hear out of it and I just used Debrox drops for 2 days to soften the wax and then flushed the ear using an ear syringe (not the bulb that comes with Debrox) & warm water and got all the wax out. CVS is the only place I’ve found the ear syringe at. They also sell these little ear wag removal tools that look like a spoon on one end, just be careful because you don’t want to insert them too far in to the ear. You can also dissolve ear wax with mineral oil, it works very well. My daughters ear was plugged pretty bad and the doctor was unable to use the loop tool to scoop it out because it hurt so bad, so she told me to put mineral oil in the ear and have her lie on her side for 20 minutes a day. I did that for a few days and then flushed the ear with the ear syringe. No wax came out because the mineral oil dissolved it all! Took her back to the doctor and she said all the wax was gone! The ear syringe is only a couple dollars at CVS. Also when I unplugged my own ear, I put a little peroxide in the water which some doctors say is a no-no because it can dry out the ear. It didn’t dry out my ear.
Here is what we did for mom at the direction of her nurse practitioner. Buy over the counter Debrox ear wax removal in a box with an eye dropper applicator. You use it in each ear following directions for a few days. Then with her laying with her head on one side use a little hydrogen peroxide in the eye dropper. It will fizz up a little and the wax may pop out. Do not use a Qtip that only pushes it pack in. There’s a little loop they sell near the ear drops that’s used to help scoop it out. BUT if it doesn’t pop out easily you shouldn’t go poking around, she should see her doctor.
Greymare I'm really REALLY sorry that you mistook my advice (take your mom to the doc or urgent care and don't use QTips) as an insult or an attempt to make you feel bad. My remark was not intended that way but I see how it could be interpreted that way.
As others have advised, getting an over the counter ear wax remedy may work for your mom. It NEVER works for me; I always end up having to go to my doc or to U.C.
Again, my apologies and my best to your mom and you.
Barb the over the counter remedies have never worked me, in fact Debrox made the last plugged ear worse. What finally worked was Debrox and then using the ear syringe for a good 20 minutes. TMI and gross but when the end result was a sink covered with little specks of a wax and the ability to hear out of my right ear again! Prior to that, using over the counter remedies resulted in a painful ear and a trip to urgent care to get the ear flushed with, of all things, warm water and an ear syringe!
I recently went to an ENT to have earwax removed. They used a vacuum device, which they claim is less likely to cause damage than flushing the ear with water (which is what they did years ago at the pediatrician's office). Even my GP likes the water flush method. (I don't.)
I now put a few drops of mineral oil in one ear once a week (alternate the ears by week)and then lie on the other side to let it work for about 15 minutes. The ENT said that hydrogen peroxide is drying, but that I could use it once a month.
Mom always used Qtips right down into the ear. Her hearing doctor says this is a no no. You are actually pushing the wax in. A Qtip should only be used where u can see was, right outside the opening. He gave Mom ear drops to soften the wax. She went back in a few days and you should have seen the wax he brought out. The over the counter works well but you have to be able to get that syring in the ear so the arm water pressure works. My DH thought just running his ear under a shower head would work. Nooooo, it has to be the syring.
Years ago I had a q-tip "accident" myself when the cotton tip fell off in my ear. Of course every attempt to remove it only made things worse , so eventually I gave in and went to a walk in clinic and the doctor there used a syringe to do the job. The amount of force needed made me think he had shoved a water cannon in there and it was more than a little painful!
My mom had ear problems for years. She went to an ENT specialist every three months to have her ears cleaned. Her doctor originally used water and syringe. For about 10 years before she died her doctor used the vacuum system. Far easier process. She also took her hearing aids to be cleaned the same day. If the coils in hearing aids are not cleaned regularly they become clogged and sound becomes distorted or diminished.
Ask mom's doctor to help... I just had mine done by her PA since I'm always nervous about cleaning them myself. My doctor only ever uses very warm, plain water and a large ear washer for pressuring the water into my ear. That pushes the wax right out (which is pretty disgusting, but wow does it make a difference in my hearing). You can buy squeeze bottles specifically for ear cleaning, too, but when in doubt as your doc.
We use a few drops of warm water with head laying down. Let sit for 3-5 min. Then turn head the other way and let the water drain out onto a towel. Then turn ear back to top and put 2-3 drops of peroxide in it, and let sit 3-5 min, turn and let it drain. Repeat with other ear. You can also try using a heating pad on a low setting to warm the area and help soften the wax before you do it. If it doesn’t work, then go to a doctor.
Get one of those ear cleaning kits on the store. You put some drops in and rinse it out. The rinsing out is optional. It's not instant. It'll take a few days. Dad went to a doctor who couldn't get his impacted wax out. So I put those drops in everynight at bed time. A few days later, a huge mass of impacted wax came out of both ears.
There's nothing special about the solution. It's mainly just water. It's just convenient.
A q-tip is NOT recommended at all. Any ENT will tell you this because it pushes the wax that is present in the ear deeper and will cause a potential infection. Instead, go to a good ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist and let them professionally remove the wax. You are introducing infection if you don't let the specialist do the task.
I would get a good syringe for ears. Fill it with warm water & gently squirt it into the ear. If that doesn't work, a doctor might need to flush it out.
DeBrox is an ear cleaner and available over the counter. My husbands ears are super ear wax makers and clog his hearing aids constantly. His ear specialist told him to use those drops a couple of times a week until his ears are cleaner then once a week. The only problem with him is he will not lay down long enough for them to work really well. Once they help loosen the was, he can turn his head so the ear is down and it will run out with loosened wax. Then we use a q-tip to gently finish removing the visible wax.
My Mom’s doctor recommended pouring a small capful of hydrogen peroxide in one ear and having her lay her head to the side to let it boil up the wax. Do each ear as often as needed and use a Kleenex to remove the excess liquid and wax. It worked wonderfully for my mom and her hearing was greatly improved.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
But Barb is right that you should really take the problem to a doctor, they can flush out the wax with a syringe or with a special loop.
As others have advised, getting an over the counter ear wax remedy may work for your mom. It NEVER works for me; I always end up having to go to my doc or to U.C.
Again, my apologies and my best to your mom and you.
I now put a few drops of mineral oil in one ear once a week (alternate the ears by week)and then lie on the other side to let it work for about 15 minutes. The ENT said that hydrogen peroxide is drying, but that I could use it once a month.
Hydrogen peroxide in syringe. That's what we used. Worked like a charm. Have them put their head down on a table with towels.
This was recommended by Dr.
Hi Barb. You are one of my favorite people and I appreciate, so much, your checking on me after my mom's passing. Thank you.
Get one of those ear cleaning kits on the store. You put some drops in and rinse it out. The rinsing out is optional. It's not instant. It'll take a few days. Dad went to a doctor who couldn't get his impacted wax out. So I put those drops in everynight at bed time. A few days later, a huge mass of impacted wax came out of both ears.
There's nothing special about the solution. It's mainly just water. It's just convenient.