Ear Drops - A guide to Hearing Loss
Ear drops are a common form of treatment for ear complaints and are available either from your local pharmacist or prescription only via your GP.
Over the counter ear drops
The majority of these are designed to treat a build up of ear wax. They contain a range of chemicals or are oil-based which break down this wax thereby softening it and enabling an easy exit via the outer ear.
As you might imagine there is a wide range of ear drops to choose from, all claiming to achieve the same result but with different prices.
The oil-based ear drops appear to work the best at softening stubborn wax deposits as well as lubricating the ear canal, making it easy for this wax to fall out of the ear. But you need to find the one which works best for you.
What to be aware of
These drops are usually safe as well as being effective but several of them contain peanut oil which is dangerous to those people who have a peanut allergy.
If you or your child is allergic to peanuts then be aware of this and look for nut-free versions.
They should have a list of exclusions such as not to be used on a perforated ear drum, broken and infected skin or possibly during pregnancy but check with the pharmacist first.
Prescription ear drops
These contain steroids or antibiotics which is why they are only available on prescription. They are usually prescribed for persistent or chronic ear infections only as GP’s don’t recommend their use for a one-off infection. The reason for this is that most ear infections only last for two to three days and clear up without any need for medication. Plus antibiotics have side effects which in some cases can be dangerous.
There is also the fact that several bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics, often as a result of overuse.
There are many different types of steroid or antibiotic based ear drops and the type you get will depend upon the type and extent of your ear infection. Your GP will discuss these with you as well as the potential side effects.
When administering ear drops to you or your child, then follow the instructions carefully.
Remove the lid, tilt your head to one side and drop the stated amount into your ear. Repeat this with your other ear.
Remove any jewellery before doing this and don’t share your ear drops with anyone else.
Treatments : A guide to Hearing Loss
- Hearing Loss Treatments Intro
- Antibotics
- Auricular Acupuncture
- Cochlear Implant
- Ear Candles
- Ear Drops
- Ear Surgery
- Hearing Aids
- Analogue Hearing Aids
- Digital Hearing Aids
- Hearing Aids for Children
- NHS or Private?
- Using your Hearing Aid
- Caring for your Hearing Aid
- Myringoplasty
- Myringotomy
- Tinnitus Masker
- Future Developments
- Gene Therapy
- Stem Cell Research
- Captions for deaf
Hearing Loss
- Hearing Loss Guide
- The Ear
- Ear Health
- About Hearing Loss
- What is Hearing Loss?
- What is Deafness?
- Types of Hearing Loss
- Symptoms of Hearing Loss
- Diagnosing Hearing Loss
- Social Impact of Hearing Loss
- Causes of Hearing Loss
- Age related hearing loss
- Cancer Treatment
- Ear Conditions
- Acoustic Neuroma
- Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease
- Barotrauma
- Blockage in the Ear Canal
- Cauliflower Ear
- Cholesteatoma
- Ear Allergies
- Ear Infection
- Ear wax
- Foreign Body in the Ear
- Hyperacusis
- Injury to the ear
- Labyrinthitis
- Large vestibular aqueduct syndrome
- Mastoiditis
- Meniere’s Disease
- Otosclerosis
- Otitis Externa
- Otitis Media
- Perforated Eardrum
- Pressures Sores on the Ear
- Sensorineural Deafness
- Surfer’s Ear
- Tinnitus
- Usher’s Syndrome
- Vertigo
- Ear Piercing
- Illness and Disease
- Medicines
- Music
- Workplace Noise
- Children and Hearing Loss
- Risk Factors for Hearing Loss in Children
- Symptoms of Hearing Loss in Children
- Ear Conditions in Children
- Ear Infections
- Glue Ear
- Otorrhea
- Auditory Processing Disorder
- Meningitis and Hearing Loss in Children
- Deafness and Children
- Hearing Tests for Children
- Treatment for Hearing Loss in Children
- Communication for parents
- Baby Hearing Screening
- Hearing Loss Treatments Intro
- Antibotics
- Auricular Acupuncture
- Cochlear Implant
- Ear Candles
- Ear Drops
- Ear Surgery
- Hearing Aids
- Analogue Hearing Aids
- Digital Hearing Aids
- Hearing Aids for Children
- NHS or Private?
- Using your Hearing Aid
- Caring for your Hearing Aid
- Myringoplasty
- Myringotomy
- Tinnitus Masker
- Future Developments
- Gene Therapy
- Stem Cell Research
- Captions for deaf
- American Sign Language
- FAQs
- Glossary
- Balance Disorders
- Dizziness
- Vestibular Schwannoma