Ear Wax Removal and Ear Care Kits

Drops, swabs or a camera kit for ear wax

Softening drops and sprays are the gentle route, because they loosen wax so it can leave on its own. Swabs and picks only push wax deeper if used inside the canal. Camera kits, which pair a tiny lens with a phone or screen, let you see what you are doing, but the canal skin is delicate: go slowly and never force a tool past what you can see. Blocked ears, pain, discharge or hearing loss call for a clinician, not a kit.

The battery size that fits a hearing device

Hearing aid and amplifier listings often name a battery size such as 312 or 675 rather than a brand. These sizes follow a standard number and color-tab code, so the size, not the maker, must match. A personal amplifier boosts all sound and is not tuned to a hearing test, whereas a hearing aid is fitted to a measured loss. Behind-the-ear designs, rechargeable cases and Bluetooth versions are named in the title, so read them.

Questions about Ear Wax Removal and Ear Care Kits

Is it safe to clean ear wax with a camera tool?

A camera lets you see, but the canal skin is delicate and the eardrum is close. Go slowly, stop if you feel pain, and see a clinician for a blocked ear, discharge, hearing loss, ear tubes or a perforated eardrum.

How do I find my hearing aid battery size?

Check the number on the old battery, the battery door or the manual. Common sizes are 10, 312, 13 and 675, with yellow, brown, orange and blue tabs. The size must match the device, whatever the battery brand.

What separates a hearing amplifier from a hearing aid?

A personal sound amplifier raises overall volume and is not programmed to your hearing test. A hearing aid is fitted and tuned to a measured loss. If you suspect hearing loss, get a hearing test before buying either.