Wax in ears & grommets

[Traveller]

Has anyone had a child with the problem of a build up of wax when they have grommets? What, if anything, is safe to use to clear it out?

Boytwin has a lot of wax in his ears and I am convinced his hearing is going downhill again, as his speech is clearly going backwards. I would like to try clearing out the wax, if it is possible, before taking him back to the audiologist as we are almost as the 12 month anniversary of our health insurance after which we can claim for anything he needs so I'm just trying to buy a little time.

TIA

[~mamaspice~]

I probably wouldn't do it myself. I definately wouldn't stick anything like a cotton wool bud in his hear as it pushes the wax further in. Especially not with having grommets and all. Maybe take him to the GP. They might syringe his ears (if it's safe to do that without the risk of dislodging the gromets). I thought gromets were meant to help drain the ear and clear excess wax? Could it be possible that one or both have fallen out?

[Traveller]

It could be possible that one or both have fallen out, although the last ones lasted 19 months and these ones have only been in for 6. Syringing is contraindicated with grommets so it looks like the only option would be olive oil or some other earwax softener, until I can get him to the ENT. I will probably take him to the GP for a quick check to make sure he doesn't have an infection though, thanks

[Lady_Tess]

Traveller we had the same problem with our son a few years ago after a particularly bad bout of tonsillitis

His hearing was defiantly going, we would test at certain times of the day. Standing behind him while hd is watching tv and talking behind his back etc etc

Our gp actually flushed out us ears and omg the clumps that came out was phenomenal. Maybe try asking your gp??

[Lady_Tess]

Oh I just read your reply.... I had grommets as a kid and had drops that would drain my ears. Mum roils use glycerine too. But I would as your gp first before trying anything

[krysalyss]

Can you use waxsol? If it is ok to use with grommets then maybe give that a try.

[~mamaspice~]

Ahh, yes syringing being contraindicated makes sense, considering when I had grommets, putting my head under water was a no no. I'd forgotten about that! But we are going back 28 years since I had grommets lol.

I think taking him to the GP is a good idea. They'll be able to see if the grommets are still there also.

[Traveller]

Thanks everyone! I am so annoyed at myself because we were using the light to look into ears at uni on Friday and if I had thought I could have borrowed one for a look. I shall have to ask the GP to let me see when he looks for the experience!

I can't find anything online that says if oil is safe to use or not with grommets, so to be safe I will ask the GP before doing anything.

[Olive]

Trav DD has terrible wax issues too ( her grommets have dislodged) but I just leave it, she often has chunks of wax!! When u mention the audiologist do u mean for a hearing test? Because they are bulk billed

[Traveller]

I was planning on taking him for a hearing test, but I think I paid last time (although admittedly not much). I just didn't want to take him back to the ENT surgeon until we could get the rebate from our health insurance because the appointments with him are really expensive and it's only a few extra weeks we will have to wait.

[Olive]

ENT is claimable through Medicare though not private

[Olive]

And yes they are exxy arnt they lol!!

[Traveller]

so if I see the ENT then do I have to choose if I get a medicare rebate or a private insurance one? Or is it only the choice of medicare? This will be the first time we have used the health insurance for anything like this so I am not sure what I can claim, lol. I know it would pay towards the hospital costs which would be the main thing if he needed his grommets redone but I had it in my head there was a rebate for the appointment too.

[Kmn]

Private health cover will pay for most hospital costs (depending on the level), and will probably also pay for the gap between medicare and surgeon/anaesthetist fees for things that are done in hospital. It may also cover things that medicare doesnt cover (like something towards devices and non-medicare covered therapies).
But you only get rebates from medicare for consultations with surgeons or doctors.

[~me~]

We have PHI and DS2 has had grommets twice, the second time was also adenoids removed. I hardly paid anthing at all, just a gap cost for the anaesthetist. I would suggest straight to an ENT. If you have PHI and the ENT sees that he needs grommets, this could all be fixed within days of seeing the ENT. If it's the same ENT you should get in quickly as existing patients usually have priority of appointments of new patients.
The ENT also has a special little tool that he grabbed quite a bit of wax out before he could see DS2's ear drum and discovered glue ear. It was like a hook at the end and it was quite surprising to see how much wax came out after he dislodged it using this tool with which DS2 had no idea what was going on.

[Olive]

if you see the ENT for a consult then you can only claim through medicare, anything in hospital is PHI, anesthtist is part medicare

[Fleur]

What about ear candling? I don't think anything is inserted into the ear itself, just that it draws out the wax. I've never had it done mind you, but I've heard really good stuff about it.

[Traveller]

Thanks everyone. We have had PHI for ages but were unable to claim for his last grommets and adenoidectomy so I wasn't sure how it worked. He has resorted to miming when he is trying to communicate because his speech has deteriorated so I have got him an appointment to get a hearing test and will get him in to see the ENT straight after. I'm not sure if it is just the wax or if the grommets are displaced but at least once we have the hearing test we will know what level of loss we are dealing with.