We appreciate our sense of hearing throughout our lives and know that our ears provide the gift of communication. But I am not certain we realize that our health and stability also depend upon healthy ears. Not only do we need healthy ears to listen, but vertigo (dizziness, feelings of falling and needing to hold on to the wall, etc.) takes place deep inside our ears, and that loss of balance can be deadly! Often, the poor health of the ear may be attributed to a buildup of ear wax, a simple enough problem to solve. We may have to look deeper and harder, however, at our aging family members because they may not be able to identify ear wax as the insidious problem it may be.
Older ears produce more ear wax than younger ones, and that greasy buildup can go unnoticed. An excessive amount can cause hearing loss, ringing in the ears and above-mentioned vertigo. Therefore, not only are the elderly unable to hear, and thus communicate, but they are, which bears mentioning again, at greater risk for falling. Many do not know that the sense of balance is in loop-shaped canals in the inner ear (semicircular canals) making the reduction of ear wax ever more important for the aging, whose sense of balance is typically more compromised.
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The wax, which is really a substance called cerumen, binds with dirt, dust, and debris. It is intended to clean the ear and allow the flow of sound to pass unimpeded. But if it collects, it can completely block the ear canal, known as impaction.
Impaction is more common in facilities where little is expected of the elderly patient, such as a nursing home. Additionally, impacted earwax can be particularly bad for dementia patients. It exacerbates hearing loss which impedes communication and can worsen aggression and other negative behaviors, due to the miasma in which the patient may find himself. Sometimes, just removal of the ear wax calms down the agitated patient.
Removal of ear wax should be done professionally by an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) or in some cases, an audiologist specially trained to do so. Some senior care facilities provide a professional to clean the ears, check hearing aids and determine the frequency of buildup.
Studies have shown a significant improvement in hearing and cognitive performance in elderly patients who have memory disorders as well as fall risks, when impacted cerumen was removed. This cerumen removal is a contributing factor to getting the senior “back into the world.”
Simple as is seems, it may be up to us to make caregivers aware of our concerns about our loved one’s hearing and sense of balance. If this article brings you a sense of awareness, we are one step closer toward helping to make their lives better as they age.