Ear candles are marketed as a holistic approach to removing ear wax with some people going as far as to claim that “candling” can improve hearing and reduce or eliminate tinnitus, but are these claims true?
In short, no. There is no scientific evidence to prove that ear candles work, and an open flame near your face and hair poses a risk. There have been reports of burns and even punctured eardrums as a result of the candle being inserted too deeply into the canal.
So, if ear candling doesn’t work, what should you do instead?
Ears are naturally self-cleaning, so in many cases, you do not need to do anything. Never insert anything into your ear canal! Q-tips and other instruments marked for “at-home” wax removal pose a risk of perforating or puncturing your ear drum. The safest method for at-home removal is the use of drops to gently flush out the ears, however there are some limitations! Drops should not be used if you have a history of surgeries in the ear or perforations of the ear drum.
If the wax is impacted, you may need to enlist the help of a professional. In many cases, your primary care or ENT doctor can perform wax removal which may be fully or partially covered by your medical insurance. Some audiology practices offer wax removal as well, however wax removal performed by an audiologist cannot be billed to insurance, and you would be responsible for any out-of-pocket costs.
Gardner Audiology is a hearing healthcare company with 9 locations in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. We are here to address all your hearing needs from ear wax to hearing aids. Have more questions about cerumen management? Contact us at info@gardneraudiology.com or 1-800-277-1182.
