Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat Prolonged Use of IEM's Warning

I offer this warning advisory for those regularly using IEM's...

I've been completely deaf in my left Ear for the past 10 days. It has been a very unpleasant, and at times, painful experience.

Given the present (UK) lockdown restrictions, I was reluctant to visit my local Doctor's Surgery for assistance.

Alternatively, I followed online advice by administering regular water irrigation, and by regular dosing of my Ear with Sodium Bicarbonate drops. It's only after 10 days that I have been able to fully extract the impacted Wax from my Ear (the drops soften the Wax, and water irrigation flushes the resultant debris).

Not many Doctor's Surgeries offer free assistance in undertaking Ear syringing - while many charge privately. Both Boots and Specsavers charge £50 to clean each Ear.

I regularly listen to various podcasts and music on the go using my IEM's: this, it would appear, from online advice, is the likely cause of my 'Impacted Ear'. Apparently, it is an issue experienced by regular use of Earbuds and IEM's - and by Hearing Aid users. That is, the natural extraction of Wax from the Ear is severely inhibited by prolonged wearing of Earbuds and IEM's.

Good advice, but too late for me

I used to travel on the tube every day, using Etymotic IEMs at a sensible volume but started getting a recurring head cold until eventually one ear clogged completely. I went to the doctor and convinced him to syringe it. They give you lots of warnings and you have to sign a waiver but I was convinced it was the way forward.

As a consequence I now have permanent tinnitus in *both* ears, to the extent that I often find music unbearable at even moderate volume.

Some water and persistence would have saved me a constant, irritating noise around my head

I earnestly sympathise with your plight. When my Ear was impacted, during the night my sleep was often disturbed by a constant whistling noise (tinnitus).

From what I recently read, your tinnitus might possibly indicate the presence of stubbornly lodged Wax.

Besides the Otex Sodium Bicarbonate drops, I also experimented with Otex Olive Oil drops.

Both are designed to soften hard Wax prior to water irrigation. One Otex product also includes a 'bulb' like device for irrigating your Ear once you have sufficiently allocated enough time for the drops to do their work.

If that doesn't work, a hospital visit to have the Wax suctioned out of your Ear is worth considering.

Spinal Tap, thank you for sharing this. I've sent my teenage boys to the link. They literally walk around all day with their IEMs/earbuds. I've lectured them on managing volume but never thought about lodging wax in the canal.

S.R.

To (grossly) assist your teenagers...

Once extracted, one simply can’t believe that so many ‘peanut’ sized chunks can fit into one Ear.

Is that the 'vacuum them out' job?

I cannot remember the exact details, but my tinnitus started after an ear clean at Dr's. I'm kind of hoping that there are, ahem, a couple of 'peanut sized chunks' still stuck in there that subsequent cleans cannot clear but would be interested in trying a vacuum jobbie. Not sure if I would trust Boots or Specsavers though.

Given the extent of your Tinnitus, I would ask your GP for a referral/appointment with an ENT Consultant at your local Hospital.

I have. Its probably all in my mind apparently so they never offered to refer.

Try Boots Hearing Care.