Get your ears cleaned!

Why you should consider getting your ears professionally cleaned once per year as an adult.

It’s interesting that even as a 45 year old, I keep learning new ways to take care of my earth suit. Ultimately it doesn’t matter how good your doctor is, the best person to take care of your body is you!

As an avid swimmer all year round, I’ve been frustrated that the last few years in my 40s I seemed to be getting regular ear infections from going into the water.

I’d been to my GP, and I had developed a regular system of using Medicated ear drops whenever I felt another ear infection coming on. And I’d gotten used to taking my bottle of ear medication with me on holiday in case I needed it.

While not a major inconvenience, it was one of those things that made me a bit sad about “getting old”, that I couldn’t seem to go swimming without getting ear infections - Swimmers Ear - when it had never been an issue before.

Anyway, It had never really occurred to me to have my ears professionally cleaned, and my GP hadn’t suggested it was necessary. My GP had looked in my ears a few times and said that things were “normal”. So, basically, my ears have been cleaning themselves since the day I was born.

But on a whim, I saw a sign for ear cleaning (which can be done at any one of over 120 Bay Audiology clinics in New Zealand for about $50), and decided to try it out.

Let me tell you what a revelation this was! So much gunk came out of each ear that I was shocked. My hearing improved about 20% instantly, and now when I go swimming, I haven’t had any issues with ear infections, probably because water is not getting trapped among a ball of wax.

Anyway, the long story short is that I’ve only just discovered at 45 that I can hear better and prevent ear infections just by spending $50 once per year on a professional ear clean, and I suggest perhaps you do the same!

I don’t suggest you try and clean your ears yourself with cotton buds and things as you can just push the wax further in, or even damage your ear-drums. Get a professional clean!