If you’ve noticed that your hearing has been a bit muffled of late and you find yourself having to constantly ask people to repeat themselves or having to turn the TV up at home so you can hear your shows better, it might well be that you have a big buildup of wax in your ears.

This isn’t a cause for concern, usually, but you will need to address the issue so you can resume your normal levels of hearing. One of the most effective ways of sorting out your earwax is to go for ear syringing at your local Newcastle clinic, but if you want to try and sort the problem out for yourself first you’ll probably reach for the earbuds.

It’s important to remember that incorrect use of these buds can actually permanently damage your hearing so you do need to know how to use them properly. In fact, the NHS advises people not to use these buds at all for earwax removal, since they can push the wax further into the ear and cause potential damage.

You could try using ear drops from your pharmacy if you think it’s only a mild case of wax buildup, which work by softening the wax sufficiently so it can fall out of your ear on its own.

Endoscopic earwax removal may be the best method, especially if you’re experiencing more severe symptoms. This is a quick process and more comfortable than microsuction, so could well prove to be just what you’ve been looking for if you want to have perfect hearing once again.