Audiologist, Jonathan P. Miller, M.S. CCC-A has announced that each of Central Carolina ENT offices is now equipped with the “Spin Doctor”. This new device is a centrifuge that helps remove ear wax from the receivers of hearing aids.
Ear wax which is a natural product of the human ear helps to keep foreign bodies out of the ear. Unfortunately ear wax and hearing aids don’t get along with each other. In fact, ear wax accounts for 70 to 80% of hearing instrument failures. When a hearing instrument is inserted into the ear, there is a good chance that wax sitting in the canal can enter the sound port and or vent.
The receiver in hearing aids can actually act as a heat sink as it is electrically charged during operation. This action combined with natural heat inside the ear canal, can cause the ear wax to flow into all areas of the receiver. Typical cleaning methods like pick tools and suction machines may not be able to reach or even extract the liquid and or dried wax from the receiver diaphragm.
When using the spin doctor, a solution of peroxide and alcohol is first injected into the receiver tube. Then the hearing aid is place into the special centrifuge and spun for 20 seconds. This process can be repeated several times to free hard and dried wax from the receiver port. In many cases the wax can be successfully extracted from the receiver. Behind the ear as well as custom earmolds can also be run through the Spin Doctor.
If your hearing instrument seems weak or intermittent, call one of our offices (Apex – 919-363-9311 or Sanford – 919-774-6829) and setup an appointment to see the Spin Doctor in action. It might save you a costly repair bill!
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