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Ear care

What does ear care involve?

Your child has wax in their ears that needs to be softened. This can be done using olive oil or bicarbonate of soda ear drops, which you can buy at a chemist. Sometimes drops will soften the wax enough to let the wax to come out naturally. Or you may need another appointment to have the wax removed by a specialist.

Only apply olive oil or bicarbonate of soda if recommended by a specialist.

How do I get drops into my child’s ear?

Most chemists sell olive oil in dropper bottles. Or you can use a teaspoon that has been in a lukewarm cup of water to drop the oil or bicarbonate of soda in. Use drops at room temperature — they should not feel hot or cold.

  1. First lay your child on their side with the affected ear facing you.
  2. Pull the outer ear backwards and put 2 or 3 drops into the ear canal.
  3. Keep your child lying down for 10 to 15 minutes then wipe away any excess.
  4. Do not leave any cotton wool at the entrance of the ear.
Do not use drops if
  • Your child has a reperforated ear drum.
  • Your child has had a recent ear infection.
  • Your child has had discharge from their ears.

If any irritation or soreness happens please stop using the drops.

How often do I put drops into my child’s ear?

Apply olive oil or bicarbonate of soda as directed by the pharmacist, doctor, nurse or audiologist.

Usually applying drops 1 to 2 times a day for 5 to 7 days is enough.

Most parents find that applying drops is easiest at bedtime so your child can lie on their side for 10 to 15 minutes and the oil can soak into the wax. If you have been asked to put oil in both ears, you can put it in one ear one night and the other ear the next night for a week.

How do I clean my child’s ears?

Simply wipe the outside of the ear with a clean face cloth.

Do not put anything down the ear canal. Cotton buds should not be used in the ear canal. They can push wax further down the ear and may damage the ear drum.

Wax is a sign of a healthy ear as it helps the ear’s self cleaning process. It should only be removed if recommended by a specialist and is impacting the ear drum.

Will wax affect my child’s hearing aid?

If your child wears a hearing aid, wax may become more of an issue. This is because the mould is blocking the entrance to the ear and will prevent wax coming out of the ear naturally.

You do not need to worry about wax unless your child’s hearing aid starts to whistle then get ears checked by an audiologist.

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Disclaimer

Please note: this is a generic information sheet relating to care at Sheffield Children’s NHS FT. These details may not reflect treatment at other hospitals. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professionals’ instructions. If this resource relates to medicines, please read it alongside the medicine manufacturer’s patient information leaflet. If this information has been translated into another language from English, efforts have been made to maintain accuracy, but there may still be some translation errors. If you are unsure about any of the guidance in this resource or have specific questions about how it relates to your child, always ask your healthcare professional for further advice.

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NHS

Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TH

United Kingdom

Switchboard: 0114 271 7000

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