How to clean earwax in the hospital: professional methods and precautions
Earwax (cerumen) is a substance naturally secreted by the external auditory canal of the human body and has the function of protecting the ear canal. But excessive accumulation may lead to hearing loss, ear congestion or infection. Recently, the topic of "hospital earwax removal" has sparked heated discussions on social platforms, with many netizens sharing their experiences and questions. This article will combine the hot discussions on the Internet in the past 10 days to sort out the professional methods, processes and precautions for cleaning earwax in hospitals, and present it in structured data.
1. Common methods for cleaning earwax in hospitals

According to medical guidelines and feedback from netizens, hospitals usually use the following three methods to clean earwax:
| method | Applicable situations | Operating Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Remove the cerumen hook | Hard lumps of earwax | The doctor uses professional tools to hook it out directly to avoid damaging the ear canal. |
| saline rinse | Loose or sticky earwax | Soften it with warm salt water and rinse it with a suction device. |
| suction device | Deep earwax or pediatric patients | Negative pressure suction reduces pain |
2. Top 5 hotly discussed issues among netizens recently
Based on the popularity of discussions on Weibo, Zhihu and other platforms, the following high-frequency issues have been sorted out:
| Ranking | question | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Will removing earwax damage the eardrum? | 32% |
| 2 | How much does the hospital charge? | 25% |
| 3 | Does child cleanup require anesthesia? | 18% |
| 4 | How often is the appropriate time to clean? | 15% |
| 5 | Are household ear picks safe? | 10% |
3. The complete process of earwax removal in the hospital
Taking the otolaryngology department of a tertiary hospital as an example, the typical process is as follows:
| steps | content | Time consuming |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Initial examination | Otoscope to observe the type and location of earwax | 5-10 minutes |
| 2. Softening treatment | Add sodium bicarbonate solution (if necessary) | 15-30 minutes |
| 3. Professional cleaning | Choose instrument operation according to the situation | 10-20 minutes |
| 4. Review and confirm | Secondary otoscope examination and cleaning effect | 5 minutes |
4. Precautions and risk warnings
1.Taboo groups: Patients with tympanic membrane perforation and otitis externa need to be treated first and then cleaned.
2.Fee reference: Ordinary cleaning costs about 50-200 yuan, and it may be higher in complex cases.
3.Risk warning: Improper operation may cause external auditory canal bleeding or infection. Be sure to choose a regular hospital.
4.daily prevention: Avoid frequent ear picking and use earplugs for protection when swimming.
5. Doctors’ advice and real feedback from netizens
Dr. Li from the Department of Otolaryngology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital reminded: "About 70% of earwax can be discharged on its own, and intervention is only required when symptoms occur." Netizen @Health小guard shared: "Hearing will be clear immediately after flushing, but it is important to avoid water on the day." Another parent reported: "The cooperation of 5-year-old children is low, so it is recommended to choose a children's specialist hospital."
Summary: Earwax removal in hospitals is a safe and effective medical practice, but the method needs to be chosen based on individual circumstances. If you experience ear discomfort, you should seek medical advice promptly rather than dealing with it yourself.
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