Dr. Chang Quoted in SELF Magazine Article About Ear Cleaning

On July 24, 2020, SELF Magazine published an article titled " How to Clean Your Ears Without Injuring Yourself " written by Patia Braithwaite. Dr. Chang was quoted twice briefly in the article (even though I recall talking to the journalist for at least 30 minutes). Check it out here !

8/07/2020 0

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Tuning Fork to Diagnose Your Hearing Loss or Clogged Ear at Home

Progressive onset of hearing loss or clogging in one or both ears is a very common symptom that leads to an ENT office visit. However, a simple tuning fork test can be performed at home in order to help diagnose whether a nerve issue is present versus something more benign like ear fluid or earwax . A C 512 Hz tuning fork is the single best tuning fork to use for these tests and can be easily found for less than $20. There are two tuning fork test components. The Weber test is per…

4/12/2020 0

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Dr. Chang Quoted in SELF Magazine Article

In June 2017, SELF magazine published a story online that quoted Dr. Chang regarding earwax and its cleaning. He is mentioned in the last paragraph. The ear canal is generally self-cleaning, so "the majority of folks don’t have to do anything," Christopher Chang, M.D., an otolaryngologist, previously told SELF. In fact, sticking a cotton swab in your ear is a recipe for disaster. Source: Watch This Earwax Extraction Video and Try Not to Look Away . SELF 6/26/17

7/18/2017 0

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The Clogged Ear Tube - How to Unclog It?

Ear Tube clogged with debris Once the decision has been made to place ear tubes for one reason or other, typically for chronic ear infections , eustachian tube dysfunction , or serous otitis media , the ear symptoms resolve until either the ear tube prematurely comes out... OR the tube becomes clogged usually with earwax , very thick mucus, granulation tissue, or dried debris. After all, the tube works by allowing ventilation between the middle ear space and the ear canal. With a clogged…

5/01/2016 1

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Dr. Chang Quoted in SELF Magazine Article

SELF Magazine published a story about earwax which liberally quoted Dr. Chris Chang . The article was published on Jan 23, 2016 and was titled "Here’s What You Really Need To Know About Cleaning Your Ears With Q-Tips" and written by journalist Amanda Schupak. Click for more information about earwax . Source: Here’s What You Really Need To Know About Cleaning Your Ears With Q-Tips . SELF 1/23/16.

1/28/2016 0

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Dr. Chang Quoted in SafeBee Article

Dr. Chang was recently quoted in an article about earwax published on SafeBee.com . He is quoted in two sections of the story. Read it here ! More info about earwax in general can be found here .

9/03/2015 0

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Do Ear Candles Actually Remove Earwax? [video]

About once a week, I have a patient who presents to my clinic with a history of ear candling for earwax removal due to clogged ear sensation. About once a month, I have a patient with ear canal and/or eardrum damage due to using an ear candle in an attempt to remove earwax. I even have on occasion patients who I thoroughly remove earwax under the microscope, who than go home, perform an ear candle, and inform me of all the "earwax" that I missed. Well... I've decide…

12/29/2012 5

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Does WaxVac or EarVac Actually Remove Earwax?

The EarVac or WaxVac  is a device that purportedly suctions out earwax . Shaped like a miniature hair dryer, one simply needs to hold it up to your ear canal in order to suction out the earwax. Recently, they have been marketing this device heavily, especially through TV commercials . Now, does it actually work??? Not really... In fact, British researchers tested it out against the humble ear curette (Jobson-Home Probe). With their test population, the WaxVac worked in exactly…

12/19/2012 2

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Best Drops for Earwax Removal

It's about time, but some researchers actually put to the test to try and determine what is the best solution to dissolve/remove earwax . The verdict was... WATER! Better than mineral oil, liquid colace, and over-the-counter cerumenolytics (ie cerumol). Hydrogen peroxide was not evaluated. How was this result determined? Using guinea pigs, the researchers first tested whether each of these substances were safe should a hole in the eardrum be present allowing for the solution t…

3/07/2012 0

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"Ear Picking" - A Barber Shop Service Health Hazard?

It was only recently that I heard of "ear picking," a barber shop service that is apparently quite common in Asia and recently becoming more popular in the United States in cities with large Asian populations. In essence, ear picking is when a variety of implements - scrapes, picks, and lights - is used within the ear canal.  Why is it popular among Asians? Mainly because of the type of earwax that is produced by Asians which is mainly dry and flaky which causes an itchy sensatio…

8/05/2011 0

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How to Unclog a Clogged Ear

First, one needs to know what is causing the clog before proper treatment can be initiated. There's a few assumptions here before proceeding. • You have no ear problems typically • There is no "pain" per se other than perhaps a pressure type pain. If there's actual PAIN present, you most likely have an ear infection and this article does not apply to you. • You currently have no other symptoms (ie, sinus or nasal problems). An upper respiratory infection or sino-nasal …

2/12/2011 4

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Why Do We Have Earwax?

This question was addressed in today's Washington Post . The question itself wasn't really addressed, but the article did contain good general information. Read more about earwax here . Read the Washington Post article here . Watch a video of earwax being removed by an ENT specialist under the microscope:

1/31/2011 0

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New Video Uploaded on Earwax Removal Under the Microscope

Our office has produced a new video on earwax removal under a microscope that we have uploaded onto our YouTube Channel . Below is how one can remove earwax using a syringe at home.

10/02/2010 0

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Our Office Now Offers Real-Time Video Ear Microscopy

Ever wonder what your ear looks like under the microscope? Ever wonder what it looks like while an ENT is removing earwax from your ear? Ever wonder what exactly is meant by that "hole" in the eardrum along with any other findings mentioned? Well, our office now offers real-time video of everything done under the ear microscope. See exactly what the ENT sees under magnification on a TV screen while he looks into your ear!!! Or not... but at least you now have that option ava…

9/08/2010 0

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Strange But True (And Disgusting) Stories in ENT

True Story #1 There was an ENT named Dr. Lloyd Storrs of Lubbock, TX. He used to save all the earwax he removed from patients. With the collected earwax, he would heat it to melt it, strain it, cool it down, and then heat it again to make an unique earwax solution he would give to patients suffering from ear canal seborrhea with cerumen. Only 2 drops per week worked. Strange but true... in fact, he wrote a paper about it. Read it here . True Story #2 Earwax , by the way, is often a t…

6/19/2010 0

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Can Earwax Be Made Into a Usable Candle?

Can you make a candle out of ear wax? Well according to a scene in the movie Shrek, it sure can. However, in reality, earwax can not produce a candle that's any good. This "myth" was attempted to be reproduced by the friendly gang of Mythbusters (a serial show on Discovery Channel), episode 136 (air date: Dec 28, 2009). Earwax was collected from Tory’s ears and ignited alongside paraffin and beeswax which are two common materials used for candles. The earwax burned with som…

5/19/2010 0

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WSJ: Ear Candles Are Hazardous To Your Ears!

The Wall Street Journal published a story on 2/18/2010 and the hazards of using ear candles to remove earwax. In the story titled " FDA: That Wax in Your Ear Shouldn’t Be a Burning Candle ," the FDA states that: "Consumers should steer clear of ear candles — hollow cones that are about 10 inches long and made from a fabric tube soaked in beeswax, paraffin, or a mixture of the two.” In fact, the FDA has seized some ear candles and sent warning letters to three big manufacture…

2/19/2010 1

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Foul Smelling Earwax (and/or Armpits) Suggest Increased Potential Risk of Breast Cancer

Researchers in Japan recently published a research article in the June 2009 edition of The FASEB Journal that explains why females with foul smelling earwax as well as armpits may be at risk for breast cancer. Apparently, the secreting glands of the breast tissue are similar to the cerumen-producing glands of the ear canal and sweat-producing glands of the armpits. Apparently, one of the genes, ABCC11 WT variant, is responsible for causing breast cancer. This genetic variant is also responsibl…

6/03/2009 0

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