Are Ear irrigation kits any Good?

The clogging of the ear canal with earwax can cause many problems like tampering with ear balance and loss of hearing. Thus, people resort to getting it cleaned before it can cause severe damage to your hearing abilities. Of the methods adopted to clean the ear canal, the Ear irrigation method is a commonly used procedure worldwide.

Ear irrigation method and Ear irrigation kit

As the name suggests, the ear irrigation method involves flushing a small jet of water directly into your ears. The flushed-out water will have earwax partially dissolved in it. A special Ear irrigation kit is used for this purpose, which can either be store-bought or homemade.

In either case, one shouldn’t carry out the procedure without consulting a doctor first. Ear irrigation method is a big no for people who suffer from certain medical conditions like eardrum damage.

An ear irrigation kit essentially consists of a long and narrow tube with a concentrator tip attached to a spray bottle. One has to fill pure water into the spray bottle and then flush the ears, while the dirty water gets accumulated in a collector tub that comes along with the kit.

Why are ear irrigation kits unsafe?

When carried out at home by inexperienced individuals, the process can do more harm than good. Some of the potential risks associated with ear irrigation kits include:

Severe and sudden dizziness

Right after the procedure, some people may experience severe dizziness. If the dizziness doesn’t go away 10 to 20 minutes after the process, it could be critical, and the person should be rushed to the hospital.

Possible damage to the middle ear

Another potential risk associated with an ear irrigation kit is damage to the middle ear. If the middle ear is accidentally harmed during the process, it can lead to temporary hearing loss. This can further lead to permanent hearing loss if not treated on time. Also, if the water pushed inside doesn’t flow out completely, it can promote the growth of bacteria and cause a middle ear infection.

Swimmer’s Ear (Otis Externa)

Usually, this type of infection is quite common in professional swimmers, and thus, they make it a point to cover their ears when they’re in the pool. When your ear is overexposed to water, there are high chances of bacterial growth, also known as Otis Externa.

Eardrum perforation or damage

When an inexperienced person performs the procedure, there is a high chance the water might hit the eardrum directly. This is not just painful but can cause hearing loss and many other ear-related problems. As the water comes out of the nozzle with an absolute pressure, proper care must be taken during the procedure.

Ear irrigation kit alternative – Spade by Axel Glade

One of the best and safest alternatives to ear irrigation kits is the Spade by Axel Glade. When it comes to ear irrigation kits, you don’t exactly know what’s happening inside your ear. This problem is solved with the use of the Spade ear cleaning device.

How to use:

The product comes with a variety of silicon ear picks. Choose the one that you think is best for cleaning the ear wax. Attach it to the tip of the device and then start cleaning the ear. The device has a 5 MP camera attached at its end. This lets you see the interior of your ear on your phone using the special monitoring app, which is compatible with iOS and Android.

Once the cleaning procedure is done, use the special swab that comes with the device to clean the walls of the ears. Apart from cleaning, the product can also help you detect any visible damage to your ears and the ear temperature.

Who shouldn’t use the Spade by Axel Glade?

·   Children below three years of age (and, any Children without adult supervision)

·   People with the existing condition of eardrum damage

Ear irrigation kit Vs. Spade by Axel Glade