Problem with Ear Wax, Tinnitus, Loss of Hearing?! Please read on!
HEAR AND NOW are offering a gentle effective ear wax removal treatment which is no longer available in some GP Surgeries.
Registered Nurse Jayne Jones is a fully trained and experienced professional who provides initial consultations to assess and plan the most effective procedure for each individual’s requirements.
Pre and Post treatment advice included.
Pre and Post treatment advice and care includes Olive Oil drops as pre-treatment to soften wax and to help prevent ear wax build up on the assumption that ‘prevention is better than cure’!
HEAR AND NOW also recommend Earol® and Earol® Swim which can also be purchased as individual items as and when required.
For further information on Earol® Swim, Swimmer’s Ear and Trapped Water.. CLICK HERE
Information: Air Travel and Ear Care
Ear problems are the most common medical complaint of air travellers. The problems may be simple discomfort or temporary pain and hearing loss.
The ear has three parts:
- The outer ear – the part you can see and the canal leading down to the ear drum.
- The middle ear – the ear drum, three small bones, the air space behind the ear drum and the air entry tube (Eustachian tube).
- The inner ear – inside the head where the nerve endings are found for the organs of hearing and balance.
It is the middle ear which causes discomfort during air travel. Normally you swallow several times every minute. Air passes up the back of the nose when you swallow and sometimes enters the tube which leads into the middle ear space. The air in the middle ear is constantly being absorbed by its lining. This is replaced by air from the tube. In this way the air is kept at equal pressure on either side of the ear drum allowing it to vibrate when sound enters your ear. If the air pressure on each side of the drum is not equal then your ears will feel blocked.
The back of the nose can be congested, which blocks the entrance to the Eustachian tube. This prevents air from passing into the middle ear. The air already in the middle ear is absorbed, and as no more air is allowed up the tube a vacuum occurs, ‘sucking’ the ear drum inwards. The drum is unable to vibrate effectively and sounds become muffled. The vacuum effect draws fluid from the lining of the middle ear, which increases the ‘blocked up’ feeling.
The most common cause of Eustachian tube blockage is the ‘common cold’. However patients who suffer from hay fever or nasal allergies can experience the same symptoms. Many children have repeated ‘colds’ and ‘runny noses’ which may prevent the tube from working effectively and can result in persistent fluid in the middle ear.
How Air Travel Causes Problems
Each time the air pressure outside the ear changes it is advisable to swallow or yawn to open the tube and let air into the middle ear to equalise the pressure. You will notice the greatest air pressure changes when an aircraft is descending prior to landing. The air pressure is lower while the aircraft is in flight and it increases nearer the ground. The changes as the plane descends cause a vacuum to form in the middle ear even faster than normal and there is even more need to swallow and let air enter the middle ear. Some pressure changes are unavoidable especially if there is a sudden descent because of air turbulence. You may have experienced similar problems when travelling by train through a tunnel, when diving or when driving in hilly country.
Things you can do to help:
Clearing the back of your nose is most important so that when you swallow air can pass more easily into the Eustachian tube. There are nasal sprays on the market which can help clear the nose and these should be used an hour or so before descent. Do not make regular use of these sprays, which can cause the nose to become more congested than before. Steam therapy is advised for a few days prior to travel. This may help children who have nasal congestion.
When your nose is clear of congestion keep swallowing during descent. Chewing mints or gum is helpful. Yawning will also help because it is a stronger activator of the tube opening. Try not to sleep during descent as you may not swallow enough to keep up with the pressure changes. Another way to unblock your ears is to force air into the tube by pinching your nose shut and then swallowing until you feel your ears “pop”. Ear plugs will protect the outer ear from sudden pressure changes and reduce the need to swallow so frequently. These may be helpful for small children. Pressure on the outer part of the ear at the front will close off the outer ear canal for a while, which may also help in the short term.
Reversed Problem: It is important that the outer ear canal is not completely blocked if there is no problem with your nose or Eustachian tube, because it will cause unequal pressure possibly resulting in pain and discomfort. This can happen when your ear canal is full of wax. Seeking professional advice and treatment is advisable if this is the case.
ARTICLE: Problems associated with the build up of Ear Wax
Cost-cutting GPs are telling patients to do it themselves – but is it safe to syringe out your own ears?
By Rachel Ellis for the Daily Mail
For an interesting article on the problems associated with the build up of Ear Wax… CLICK HERE
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For more information and details on our sponsorship of ‘Iker’ and other dogs, please visit Hearing Dogs for Deaf People… CLICK HERE
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