Everyone has differing needs when it comes to managing and removing ear wax, and whilst you should look for treatment as soon as you notice muffled hearing or signs that there could be a blockage, it can sometimes require same-day or emergency treatment.
For the most part, the build-up of ear wax is natural, and removal is fairly straightforward with a mix of over-the-counter medication and microsuction. This can be done quickly, easily and painlessly.
However, there are times when removing ear wax quickly is less about helping with muffled hearing or managing conditions such as tinnitus but is instead a symptom of a more serious condition that needs to be taken care of.
Here are some of the reasons why you might need emergency ear wax removal.
Intense Ear Pain
Pressure can cause ear pain, and one symptom that can occur as a result of an ear wax blockage is ear pain. However, if that pain is particularly severe, or if you notice blood or pus coming out of your ear, it could be a sign of a complex perforated eardrum.
Not all perforated eardrums need treatment, but some of them can require antibiotics or even surgery if the eardrum does not repair itself.
Severe Hearing Loss
Blocked ears will inevitably cause a degree of hearing loss, but if you cannot hear anything at all out of the blocked ear or if the hearing loss has not gone away on its own, you may require emergency microsuction.
This is partly to relieve the pressure on your ear, partly to reduce the risk of an ear infection, and partly to diagnose your hearing health and refer you to an audiologist if there is a risk of more severe long-term hearing damage.
The more time that you wait, the greater the chance of an infection or more significant side effects.
