I have a wax filter stuck in my ear. How do I get it out?

I am so sorry to hear that. Please call your audiologist. Your audiologist can look inside your ear canal to confirm that something is stuck inside and we have tools for comfortably removing foreign objects from the ear. Good luck!

I agree with the others posting here, that this is not any sort of emergency.  Those are very tiny, and it will probably move out on it's own.  I also agree with one of the others posting here that flushing it out is a good thing to do, assuming you do not have a perforation in your eardrum.  And of course, the best thing to do would be to see your Audiologist.  However, I also assume you are posting this hear because you are hesitant to actually go see that person for some reason, which alone is sort of concerning.  We don't ever mind seeing our patients, and if your audiologist makes you feel that way for some reason, that is a problem. 

All of the other answers on here cover the topic pretty well.  I just wanted to provide you with an anecdote to make you feel better.  I have had multiple patients with this issue, and it has never caused a problem.  Often times they think it is in their ear but it actually fell out on the carpet in the morning, but on the flip side I did have a patient that complained of occluding wax and as I removed the blockage I counted 9 wax guards in his left ear and 7 in the right.  I advised him to contact me if he was putting new filters in without removing old ones first.

Hopefully you found a solution that suits you, but to reiterate a previous post, if you are uncomfortable approaching your Audilogist or Hearing Instrument Specialist about something like this it may be time to look for someone you are more comfortable with.  We have heard it all, and we will never judge.

The best thing to get the wax filter out of the ear canal is have your audiologist or ENT provider remove it with a curette.  This is a safer method than using water lavage in the ear.  There are documented hearing loss due to use of water lavage in the ear.  Please be cautious or don't do it at all.  

Two things you want to do now are:

1.  Have either your audiologist remove it quickly and easily.  This will be free v. going to your doctor.

2.  While there, have your audiologist check the hearing aid to make sure the retaining ring for the wax guard is intact and not the cause of your wax guard remaining in your ear canal!

No worries though as the wax guard is tiny and will not harm you.  

Roberta Singer, Audiologist

I would try using a blue bulb with warm water to flush it out. Don't stick the end of the bulb down in your ear canal but just aim it into the ear canal and press gently to flush out the ear. The bulb I'm referring to is one of the rubber bulbs that you use to clean out the noses of babies. My experience is that it will probably come out on its own after a while. Hope this helps.

Hi don’t worry too much as this won’t harm your ear. Time to time we often see patients with domes or wax traps left in the ear canal. Visit your local hearing clinic and they will have it out within a matter of minutes.

In the UK you could go a couple of routes. The free option is to visit your GP who will most likely refer you to the ENT (Ear Nose & Throat) department of your local hospital for them to remove it.

For a quicker but paid option you can visit an audiologist/hearing aid audiologist who is trained in cerumenology (wax removal) my training incorporated training by an ENT surgeon showing how to remove foreign objects either with manual tools or via suction.

I'm sorry to hear that a filter is stuck in your ear canal. The good news is, filters do not harm your ear. Even more good news is that they are easy to remove! Call or visit your hearing health care provider and get that filter out. Wishing you the best!

Return to your hearing care provider and they may be able to remove it for you.