As a caregiver, one of your responsibilities may be cleaning your loved one’s ears. Too frequently, wax builds up, further limiting their already reduced hearing ability. In addition, wax is notorious for blocking the hearing of those wearing hearing aids. Below are a few resources I have found helpful in the category of ear cleaning:
1.) Frequently clean hearing aids as directed by your doctor. These little guys often get wax within their parts, hindering them from working as they should. I found it helpful to just schedule a certain time to clean them. The frequency you clean them will depend upon the amount of wax produced by your loved one’s ear.
2.) Please make sure your loved one refrains from putting potentially injurious items in their ears. (One article put it this way – that it’s not wise to put anything “smaller than your elbow” in your ear.) (Examples of problems could be things such as: fingers [persistent finger picking], bobby pins, Q-tips, etc.)
3.) I appreciate this great overall informative article pertaining to the ears:
How to Clean and Take Care of your Ears (There is also a great section about swimmer’s ear.)
4.) For those needing to remove the wax –
Gardenartist commenting on agingcare.com shared the following:
“Molly, I finally found the VA instructions for ear cleaning:
First, wash hands before and after cleaning, then follow these instructions:
1. Mix equal amounts of hydrogen peroxide and tap water (well water must be boiled and cooled to room temp first) in a cup (VA provides one that’s a 120 ml plastic cup with a cap). Liquids should be as close as possible to body temp. If too hot or too cold, person can feel dizzy or nauseous.
2. Use a syringe (you’ll have to buy your own) with a flexible plastic tip; fill with the hydrogen peroxide/water mix, by placing tip of syringe in mixture, pull plunger to fill the syringe.
(Syringe is called BD 10 ml syringe, with a “Luer-Lok” tip, REF 309604)
Since the plastic cup to be filled with the mixture is 120 ml and the syringe only holds 10 ml, this is obviously for multiple uses. I think what I would do is just add 5 ml of hydrogen peroxide and 5 ml of water instead of filling the whole bottle.
3. Lie down on side, affected ear facing toward ceiling. Place towel under head. Gently place flexible tip of syringe into ear canal, but DO NOT PUSH TIP INTO THE EAR.
4. Slowly push plunger to push liquid SLOWLY into ear canal. Hold head still 5 minutes to allow solution to sit inside ear.
5. Then place a C shaped bowl or pan (like the emesis basins hospitals use) under ear and against neck, tilt head to allow liquid to drain into bowl and not on clothing as it may stain.
6. Repeat with other ear.
If ear pain and/or bloody drainage is experienced, discontinue and call doctor.”
(above is from www.agingcare.com/questions/how-can-i-remove-mothers-earwax-188022.htm accessed 6/2/18)
Also referenced is this article.
5.) A few cautions – please make sure to use the appropriate temperature water (warm).
Make sure ear is dry so as to prevent any infections or complications.
Do not perform this ear cleaning if the eardrum is ruptured or there is any opening in the eardrum.