Primary care doctor can safely treat your ears

August 11, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: You have repeatedly indicated that a primary care doctor can remove wax from the ears. NO WAY! Only a trained ENT doctor should do that. It does not take much to create serious problems.

I go every three months to my ENT for ear cleaning. I am deaf in one ear and have an over 75 percent hearing loss in the other. I will not take a chance on just anyone doing any more than looking in my ears. The same thing goes with my eyes.

I have a story about how a primary care doctor could not help with an ear problem. A little girl we knew had a problem with one ear where she would get real bad pain. Her parents took her to the pediatrician, who just gave her antibiotics, which did nothing. [Read more...]

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Vertigo may be due to wax

February 5, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I’m a 72-year-old female who has problems with vertigo. It comes and goes. I get dizzy when I lie down. I’ve had the problem for years and have been to an ear-nose-and-throat specialist. He removes wax from both my ears, and that helps for a short while, but it does come back. Can you give me any advice?

DEAR READER: Vertigo is the sensation that a person or his or her surroundings are moving or spinning. It differs from dizziness (vertigo, lightheadedness, loss of balance and more).
[Read more...]

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Earwax remedies

November 24, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Does hydrogen peroxide help with hard earwax in children, and how much should I use? I thought I read that two drops in each ear every night was correct, but I’m unsure.

DEAR READER: Ear wax protects the ear by preventing bacteria, dust and foreign matter from entering and causing damage. Wax can build up in the ear canal but can also occur if a person attempts to clean the ear but inadvertently pushes the wax deeper into the canal.

Softeners can include glycerin, hydrogen peroxide, baby oil, olive oil, mineral oil or almond oil, saline solution, or over-the-counter preparations designed for such a purpose. Hydrogen peroxide and other methods should be used only if you are sure there is no infection, discharge, redness or hearing impairment. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

August 7, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have a problem with dried ear wax in my outer ears, especially when it settles in the small crevices and is painful to remove. I’m a 77-year-old female who has always had lots of ear wax, but it used to be soft and could be removed easily. How does the wax flow out when it is dry and brittle? Is there anything that can help?

DEAR READER:
Ear wax is secreted by glands in the skin that line the canals of the ears. Its purpose is to trap dirt and slow the growth of bacteria. Why some individuals seem to produce more wax than others is unknown. Blockages can occur when people attempt to clean their ears themselves, most often with the aid of swabs. As a general rule, this process simply pushes any wax into the ear canal and against the drum causing pain, fullness and hearing loss. The practice should never be done. [Read more...]

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