The oddly satisfying side of audiology
Ear Wax Removal. Billions of views. Millions of followers.
And a question audiologists get all the time: why do people love watching ear wax removal videos?
It’s one of the internet’s strangest obsessions, but also one of the most revealing.
Scroll through YouTube or TikTok and you’ll find whole channels devoted to the moment a tiny camera enters an ear and, seconds later, clarity is restored.
At Alto Hearing, we see it too. Our own YouTube channel attracts thousands of people who are fascinated by the process; not because it’s shocking, but because it’s strangely calming to watch.
So what’s behind it? Here are five surprisingly human reasons people can’t look away.
1. The power of transformation
There’s something irresistible about before and after.
In seconds, a blocked ear becomes clear, a problem becomes solved, and a person hears again.
It’s the same dopamine hit as watching a messy room being cleaned or a garden restored.
Psychologists call it the “restoration drive”, our brain’s craving for order, resolution and relief.
Earwax removal delivers that neatly in a very short amount of time.
It’s the same reason cleaning videos, garden makeovers and restoration clips feel so rewarding.
There’s comfort in seeing something messy become neat, and that comfort runs deep, it’s reassurance that things can be fixed.
2. The ASMR effect
For some viewers, the sound is the star.
The gentle crackle as wax loosens, the soft suction, the clinician’s calm voice.
These all trigger ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response), a tingle of relaxation that comes from soft, detailed sounds and slow, deliberate movements.
It’s less about ears and more about care.
The feeling that someone’s being looked after, even if it’s just through a screen.
3. Curiosity about the hidden
We never get to see inside ourselves.
The ear canal feels familiar, yet looks like an entirely different world.
That curiosity is part science, part storytelling. We’re wired to explore what we can’t usually see, and modern video technology finally lets us peek inside.
It’s a reminder that the body is fascinating, not frightening.
That glimpse into the unknown sparks the dopamine loop of discovery, the same system that rewards learning.
It’s a rare mix of medical and mesmerising, equal parts biology and bedtime scroll.
4. Empathy and relief
Every video is a tiny story. Someone can’t hear, then suddenly they can.
That first “Oh wow” moment hits something deep in us.
Our mirror neurons fire. We feel their relief.
It’s the emotional reward of seeing discomfort turn into clarity.
For a few seconds, we all share that sense of “better.”
It’s one of the few medical videos where everyone wins, the viewer feels good, the patient feels better, and the clinician gets to show the precision of their craft.
That’s rare on the internet, and people sense it.
5. Gross-out meets gratitude
Yes, there’s a small thrill in watching something slightly icky, but safe.
It’s the same curiosity behind pimple-popping videos, only this one ends in health, not horror.
The satisfaction comes from seeing a job properly done.
The problem’s gone, the world feels tidy again, and your brain gets a quiet hit of order restored.
What it really says about us
Ear wax removal videos sit at the crossroads of science, story and satisfaction.
They remind us that even something small can have a big emotional payoff.
And maybe that’s why people keep watching, it’s not just wax coming out.
It’s clarity, comfort, and the joy of things being set right.
They also show why professional ear care matters. What looks simple on screen is actually a delicate, highly skilled procedure carried out with care and precision.
It’s audiology made visible, and it can be surprisingly beautiful.
At Alto Hearing, we film real treatments for our YouTube channel so people can see how gentle and effective professional earwax removal really is.
If you love watching, you’ll probably love the feeling even more.
Book safe, clinical ear wax removal at altohear.co.uk or call 0800 2461901
