Slight deafness in ear after cleaning

aligator_am

I was cleaning out my ears with cotton swabs, as you do, however when I had finished cleaning my right ear I noticed that there was a build up of pressure in it (like the sensation you get just before your ears pop at altitude etc) now I know I was very careful cleaning them and didn't hit the eardrum or anything, this was a couple of days ago and the sensation remains. If I move my head from side to side it's as though I can feel something shaking inside my ear, is this something I should be worried about as there is reduced hearing in that ear. (as I said though, there is also what seems to be a constant build up of pressure in that ear also, but this goes when I hold my nose and blow, as if I were trying to pop my ears)

Has anyone had a similar experience to this?

is_that_so

aligator_am wrote:

I was cleaning out my ears with cotton swabs, as you do, however when I had finished cleaning my right ear I noticed that there was a build up of pressure in it (like the sensation you get just before your ears pop at altitude etc) now I know I was very careful cleaning them and didn't hit the eardrum or anything, this was a couple of days ago and the sensation remains. If I move my head from side to side it's as though I can feel something shaking inside my ear, is this something I should be worried about as there is reduced hearing in that ear. (as I said though, there is also what seems to be a constant build up of pressure in that ear also, but this goes when I hold my nose and blow, as if I were trying to pop my ears)

Has anyone had a similar experience to this?

I remember someone telling me not to put anything smaller than my elbow in my ear. Probably deep wax that you've pushed in even further. I'd suggest getting wax remover from a chemist or better still go to a doctor and get your ears flushed. I've had it done. Quite pleasant :eek:

mike65

Not saying this is what you suffer but worth checking anyway
http://health.yahoo.com/health/centers/hearing_loss/001064
less likely is http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/balance/meniere.asp

Mike.

aligator_am

Yeah it's just very disconcerting ye know? Does anyone reccomend a particular wax remover?

is_that_so

Just ask them in the chemists for ear wax remover. I woldn't rule out the GP though.

aligator_am

I looked at the link that mike65 provided (the first one) and that would seem like an accurate description of the symptoms, I've had a throat infection (I think, well I've been coughing up a lot of fleghm in the days prior to me cleaning my ears) So it may well be that.

It's not really that sore, but is just uncomfortable, and to be honest I was getting pretty freaked out as I thought I was after damaging my eardrum (hopefully I haven't)

Thanks for the advice & help, I appreciate it
Al

Capt'n Midnight

Cotton swabs tend to compact it and push it back into the ear so long term not good. can also inflame the ear too.

if the inside of your ear is moist/damp then that may be the real problem, dry ears are best. Dampness can be bacteria heaven - but don't use swabs to dry them out.

not a medical board, see your doctor etc. sound levels may go up or down.

Orla1

aligator_am wrote:

I was cleaning out my ears with cotton swabs, as you do, however when I had finished cleaning my right ear I noticed that there was a build up of pressure in it

Using cotton swabs to clean your ears can caust the earwax to go furthur into your ear and compact it instead of getting it out... you only manage to get a little of it out... It would be best to go to your GP so he/she can see to in now and in the future you should use drops that soften the wax.

Turner

Cotton swabs are bad..

Doctor told me never to put anything smaller than my finger into my ear.

DrIndy

is_that_so wrote:

I remember someone telling me not to put anything smaller than my elbow in my ear. Probably deep wax that you've pushed in even further. I'd suggest getting wax remover from a chemist or better still go to a doctor and get your ears flushed. I've had it done. Quite pleasant :eek:

Very true - cotton buds push ear wax in further. Don't use them for this, infact there are warning on the packets not to use them for such a purpose.

Your ears clean themselves and push the wax out on their own, leave them to it..... people have managed to clean their ears naturally for millenia before the invention of the cotton bud - leave nature to work its best.

rugbug86

i got my ears cleaned today actually, tisn't bad.
id suggest a trip to your doc. but be careful afterwards, i got quite dizzy!

Capt'n Midnight

is_that_so wrote:

I remember someone telling me not to put anything smaller than my elbow in my ear.

Are you so unfamiliar with your body that you haven't realised yet that you can't touch your ear with your elbow ?

DrIndy

Capt'n Midnight wrote:

Are you so unfamiliar with your body that you haven't realised yet that you can't touch your ear with your elbow ?

Hence the emphasis on not putting anything in your ear!

@rugbug - you got dizzy because of your balancing instrument in your ear and when cold water is put in, it causes a shift in the fluid and this "motion" detected by your ear is not detected by your eyes. This confuses your brain and causes you to feel dizzy.

The same principle applies to spinning in a circle. When you stop, the fluid in your ears keeps moving but your eyes tell your brain you are standing still and you lose your balance due to inco-ordination of those two sets of signals. This is exagerated by one ear cleaning because your eyes AND the other balancing organ tells your brain you are still, but one says your moving because of the fluid shift.

The colder the water, the greater the response. I do not endorse any experiments whatsoever to determine this further.

Lex Luthor

rugbug86 wrote:

i got my ears cleaned today actually, tisn't bad.
id suggest a trip to your doc. but be careful afterwards, i got quite dizzy!

Go to Boots chemist, they have a new product called Audiclean. It's great for flushing out wax and wax plugs...
Best to do it at night time though.
First time I used it, it was morning time, I got really dizzy as DrIndy explains and had a splitter of a headache for most of the day.
Cleaning them out before bedtime would be less of a chance of that happening.

Gilgamesh

take the swab back out of your ear, duh!

rugbug86

Lex Luthor wrote:

Go to Boots chemist, they have a new product called Audiclean. It's great for flushing out wax and wax plugs...
Best to do it at night time though.
First time I used it, it was morning time, I got really dizzy as DrIndy explains and had a splitter of a headache for most of the day.
Cleaning them out before bedtime would be less of a chance of that happening.

i have audiclean already, have an earwax problem so i know all about the dizzyness and cleaning and whatnot. was just telling the OP what to expect