Your ears are divided into three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The outer ear includes the pinna (the part of the ear we can see) and the ear canal. The eardrum separates the ear canal from the middle ear. Together, these capture sound waves. Sound waves create vibrations that then enter the inner ear. Vibrations from the inner ear send electrical messages through the vestibulocochlear nerve to the brain. The ear canal contains glands that produce earwax (cerumen). It is normal to have a lining of earwax in the ear canal, as the wax protects the middle ear from everyday dust and dirt.
How to do routine ear cleaning
Your child’s outer ears can be cleaned regularly to remove any dirt. The safest way to do this is to use a soft washcloth.
Items such as cotton swabs or hair pins should not be put in the ear canal. Using these items in the ear canal will pack the wax in further or cause damage to the ear canal. Cotton swabs may also lead to increased production of ear wax.
Ear candling or ear coning are not recommended for cleaning your child’s ears. Ear candling and ear coning have no clear benefit and can be risky.
How to remove hardened earwax
Regular wax removal is not necessary for most children. Occasionally, hardened ear wax blocks the ear canal and causes pain, itching or difficulty hearing.
If you think your child has a build-up of hardened earwax, there are several types of wax softeners that can be used. Wax removal drops should be avoided in children under the age of 3 unless it has been recommended by a health-care provider. Children with recent perforation of the ear drum or who have tubes in their ears should not use wax removal drops.
There are three types of wax removal drops:
- water-based drops (including sterile water, diluted hydrogen peroxide, docusate and sodium bicarbonate)
- oil-based drops (including mineral oil, almond oil and olive oil)
- non-water/nonoil-based drops (including carbamide peroxide)
Many of these ingredients are household items and can be used with a dropper. Wax removal drops are also available over-the-counter in most pharmacies and usually include a dropper to make it easy to use. Studies have not shown that one type of wax remover is better than another, but most are more effective when used once or twice a day for three to five days.
The following tips will help make the process easier:
- Warm up the wax removal drops to skin temperature by holding it in a small container in your hands.
- Use a dropper to apply the drops to the affected ear.
- Have your child lie down with the affected ear facing up and leave the drops in the ear for a few minutes.
- The softened wax usually loosens over several days and can be wiped away from the entrance of the ear canal.
If the wax does not work its way out and your child is still complaining of ear pain, itching or difficulty hearing, your child’s health-care provider may be able to remove it with a special instrument called a curet or with a warm water flush.
When to see a health-care provider
Take your child to their health-care provider if:
- you notice any blood, oozing or pus coming from the ear
- your child has ear pain or experiences any change in their hearing
- you see anything stuck in your child's ear