What is the difference between wet and dry ear wax?

Earwax, also known as Cerumen, is a natural substance produced by the ceruminous glands in our ear canal. It plays an important role in protecting the ear from dust, bacteria, and other foreign particles – but not all earwax is created equal. There are two types of earwax: wet and dry.

In this blog post, we will explore the differences between wet and dry earwax and what causes earwax.

Wet Ear wax

Wet earwax is the most common type of earwax and is produced in larger amounts. It is soft, sticky, and yellow or brown in colour. Wet earwax acts as a lubricant and is important in trapping foreign particles and dust, preventing them from reaching the eardrum. This type of earwax is usually removed naturally as we move our jaw and when we talk, chew or yawn.

Dry Ear wax

Dry earwax, on the other hand, is less common and is produced in smaller amounts. It is flaky and brittle and can be yellow, grey, or brown in colour. Dry earwax is not as effective as wet earwax in trapping foreign particles and is more likely to cause blockages in the ear canal.

What Causes Ear wax?

The production of earwax is a natural process that is controlled by the ceruminous glands in our ear canal. The exact cause of earwax production is not known, but it is believed to be related to the pH level and moisture in our ear canal.

Some people produce more earwax than others, and this can be due to genetics or lifestyle factors such as the use of hearing aids, earplugs, or other objects that can block the ear canal.

What are the symptoms of earwax blockage?

When earwax accumulates in the ear canal and becomes impacted, this could cause a blockage. Some common symptoms of this include:

• Earache: The pressure from the buildup of earwax can cause pain or discomfort in the ear.
• Hearing loss: Earwax blockage can reduce the amount of sound that reaches the eardrum, leading to temporary hearing loss.
• Tinnitus: A ringing or buzzing sound in the ear can be a symptom of earwax blockage.
• Itching: The presence of earwax can cause itching in the ear canal.
• Dizziness: A blockage of earwax can disrupt the balance mechanism in the inner ear and cause dizziness.
• Fullness in the ear: A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear is a common symptom of earwax blockage.
• Discharge: In some cases, earwax blockage can lead to discharge from the ear.

Suffering with blocked ears?

We can remove your earwax in one 30 minute appointment.

At both our hearing centres in Worcester and Stratford-upon-Avon, we provide a range of ear cleaning services to best suit your condition. These include: micro-suction, endoscopic and irrigation earwax removal.

What to expect at your appointment

1. You’ll be greeted by our friendly reception staff who will assist you with the registration process.
2. Our clinical audiologist will then assess your wax build up and decide the most appropriate method of removal.
3. Removal of ear wax via the appropriate method (microsuction, instrumentation, irrigation or endoscopy).
4. Application of cetrimide antiseptic cream (to ensure the ear stays calm and no dry skin irritation occurs).
5. A post procedure assessment to ensure all wax is cleared and a healthy ear is observed. 

Attempting to clear earwax from home could lead to further problems; leave it to our registered clinical specialists. Request your earwax removal appointment today 

Is it a hearing aid or a wellness device?

It can be both!

Well-Hearing is Well-Being

Hearing health is about more than just our ears – it can affect our social-emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being.

That is why prioritising our hearing health and treatment can impact our quality of life and connection with the world around us.

A Fitbit for the ears, but better?

Traditional hearing aids focus largely on sound amplification; on the other hand, digital wellness hearing aids focus on enhanced communication, engagement, and overall well-being – through amplification as well as advanced sound processing, sensor technology, artificial intelligence and real-time health tracking.

What features can I expect from a wellness hearing aid?

Most importantly, the latest technology in hearing aid audiology. You can also track your heart rate, steps taken and distance walked or ran, you can also establish customisable goals and keep track of it all on your hearing aids app. All wellness hearing aids provide universal Bluetooth connectivity to all your devices and most of them are now waterproof and rechargeable.

Hearing Aids as Fitness Trackers

Hearing aid technology has advanced so much, nowadays hearing aids are also universal wellness devices, not only tracking steps, but monitoring social engagement, overall activity, and actual wear time.

When hearing aids become a lifestyle choice and not just a healthcare solution, they can have a more profound effect on well-being.

To many of us, earbuds, Apple Watches or Fitbits are already lifestyle devices. For those of us who also requite hearing assistance, hearing aids that combine lifestyle functions with leading-edge sound processing, clarity, and amplification create a more holistic approach to healthcare.

Take control of your hearing and well-being

While hearing loss can seem overwhelming, you can feel assured that there are solutions available to improve your quality of life.

Worcester & Stratford Hearing Centres are here to get you or your loved ones back to living life to the fullest.

Contact your preferred centre and book an appointment today.

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What are the best hearing aids available?

Hearing aids are designed to improve the quality of life for individuals with hearing loss by allowing them to hear and understand speech more clearly, and reduce the negative impacts of hearing loss on their daily activities and relationships.

According to the World Health Organisation, around 466 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss. This number is even expected to double by 2050.

With the advancements in technology, hearing aids have become much more sophisticated, offering a range of features and benefits that can help individuals better their quality of life.

Read on for the different hearing aid types and for the best hearing aids available in 2023.

Rechargeable hearing aids and the benefits

Rechargeable hearing aids are designed to make your life easier and hassle-free. If you have dexterity issues, changing your hearing aid batteries can prove quite the task. Rechargeable hearing aids are easier to handle and allow for more independence. 

If you use your hearing aids frequently throughout the day, you won’t have to worry about them running out at a crucial time. Because you’ll charge your hearing aids overnight, you’ll have enough battery power to get you through the day to put your mind at ease.

Plus by recharging your batteries instead of buying new ones, you are creating less waste and helping the environment whilst also improving your lifestyle.

The top rechargeable hearing aids available in 2023

Phonak Audeo Lumity

The Phonak Audéo Lumity focuses on giving you improved speech understanding with its unique Phonak SmartSpeech™ Technology.

• Enjoy conversations in many challenging listening situations.
• Lumity has been trained with artificial intelligence-based machine learning to accurately identify a sound environment.
• It perfectly orchestrates the numerous comfort and speech understanding features in Lumity to adapt to your personal environment.
• Enjoy the benefits that this technology brings to you and your loved ones.

Signia Styletto Connect

These elegant state-of-the-art solutions replicate the natural experience of hearing everything in harmony.

• Improve your hearing to a remarkable new level and preserve the familiar sound of your own natural voice.
• Rechargeable for uncompromised living.
• Stylish charger that fits right in your pocket.
• Stay independent and connected with Bluetooth connectivity. 

Bluetooth hearing aids and the benefits

Bluetooth hearing aids use wireless technology to allow two devices to communicate with each other over short distances. 

If you’re a fan of walking and talking on the phone, you will no longer have to awkwardly hold your phone to access your hearing aid’s microphone. Your Bluetooth hearing aids connect directly to your smartphone providing clear audio directly through your hearing aids.

Instead of blasting the TV at a high volume, you can connect directly with your TV and watch your favourite shows at your preferred level. You can also listen to the radio, your favourite album or your podcast whilst out walking your dog.

The top Bluetooth hearing aids available in 2023

Starkey Evolv AI

The Starkey Evolv AI is a smart hearing aid that offers several benefits to its users.

• Its technology learns and adapts to the wearer’s listening environment, automatically adjusting the volume and sound quality to suit the situation.
• It filters out background noise, making it easier to hear speech in noisy environments.
• Stream music, phone calls and other audio directly to your hearing aids.
• Highly customisable, with adjustable settings to suit your individual needs.

Oticon More

A revolutionary hearing aid that gives the brain more of the relevant information it needs to make better sense of sound.

• Get better speech understanding with less effort and the ability to remember more.
• Effortless connections & two-way hands-free communication.
• Increase your speech understanding by 15%.
• Styles and options to fit your lifestyle.

Invisible hearing aids and the benefits

Get effortless hearing with complete discretion with Invisible hearing aids.

As the hearing aids sit within the ear or ear canal, they are extremely hidden. At the same time, they minimise the feeling of your ears being blocked and allow you to focus on conversations, even in disruptive background noise.

You can use your devices, such as telephone or headphones, with little to no feedback. Many Invisible hearing aids also have sophisticated technology such as Bluetooth, to stream your audio directly to your hearing aids.

Our Invisible hearing aids can be custom-made to your ear shape, size and structure to help keep them secure to suit an active lifestyle. With no external wires or tubes, they’re also extremely comfortable.

The top invisible hearing aid available in 2023

The Phonak Lyric

The Lyric is an invisible, extended-wear hearing aid. It is truly invisible, being placed deeply in the ear canal. 

• Designed to be worn 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• No battery changes, no hassle and no fuss.
• Get a 30 day trial period to see if this is the hearing aid for you.

Whether you have hearing aids or you’ve never even had a hearing test before, at Worcester & Stratford Hearing Centres we will look after all your hearing needs, from your initial assessment to fittings and continued bespoke care. Get in touch today.