Advanced Hearing & Balance Specialists Ear Candling: Good or Bad?

Dr. Eric L. Maxwell

Ear Candling: Good or Bad?

Ear candling.  I have had a lot of people ask me if this procedure actually works to remove wax from the ear canals.  Ear candling is also called coning.  The premise is that by putting a burning, cone-shaped candle in your ear that it will create negative pressure that will then pull out ear wax.  There have also been claims by some that ear candling will also clean impurities out the sinuses, brain, and other body parts. 

A number of years ago I had enough people start asking me about ear candling that I decided that I would look into it in greater depth.  I had some patients who were planning on having the ear candling performed so I had them come into the office first.  We took pictures of their ears with my video otoscope before and after the candling.  Guess what???  There was no difference in the amount of wax in their ear canals.  The candling didn’t help.  My patients were astonished.

They told me that they had seen a lot of ear wax when they had cut open the ear candle.  The wax that they actually had seen had been the wax from the candle itself. 

There are documented cases of ear candling causing significant distress to the ear canals.  This occurs when hot wax drips into the ear and there have been cases of burnt ear canals, burnt eardrums (requiring surgery to correct), infections, etc.  There is a good article online that goes into greater detail about ear candling.  It can be found at www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/candling.html 

So do I think that ear candling works?  No, I do not.  In fact, it can cause damage to the ear canals, eardrums, and other structures found in the ear.  Not to mention that people have burnt their houses down while candling.  In an upcoming article I will talk about the proper way to clean your ears.  Until then……Good Hearing.   

Dr. Eric L. Maxwell, Au.D, FAAA, was raised in St. George and spent a lot of time in the Cedar City in his youth. He studied Audiology at Brigham Young University and the University of Utah and earned a Master’s of Science degree in Audiology from the University of Utah. Upon graduating, Dr. Maxwell and his family moved to Tucson, Arizona where he practiced Audiology for five years. When an opportunity came to move to Cedar City, Dr. Maxwell jumped at the chance and have been back in Cedar City for the past 8 years. He loves the beautiful scenery, friendly people, and the community. Dr. Maxwell specializes in:

• Digital Hearing Aid Sales, Service and Counseling Specialist
• Earmold and Hearing Protection Specialist
• Diagnostic Medical Hearing Assessments for Adults and Children
• Industrial Hearing Conservation Specialist

PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO LOVED ONES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION OR SPECIAL NEEDS THROUGH PLANS 529 AND 529A (ABLE Act)

Phillip G. Gubler and Thomas J. Bayles, Attorneys at Law

Historically Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code has applied only to tax savings related to  higher education;  however, the new Section isthI529A, the ABLE Act, was recently enacted to provide a convenient way to help a loved one with special needs. 

There are tax advantages for using the 529 Education Savings Plan.  Funds placed in a 529 account can grow without having to pay tax on the income as long as the funds are used by the beneficiary for qualified higher education expenses.  A qualified higher education expense includes payment for tuition, books and supplies, as well as room and board if the beneficiary is enrolled at least half time.  This is appealing for many as a means to contribute to a child’s or grandchild’s education without paying income tax on the increase in the investment, and the contributor may qualify for a state income tax credit for the funds placed in the 529 account.  Although it is most common for a parent or a grandparent to create and fund a 529 account for a child or grandchild, anyone can contribute.  The owner of the 529 account and the beneficiary do not have to be related.       

If a beneficiary decides not to pursue higher education, the 529 account can be transferred to another member of the beneficiary’s family, or the funds can be withdrawn.  However, if the funds held in the 529 account are not used for qualified higher education expenses, the contributor may be required to pay income tax and a 10% penalty on the earnings.  

The 529A plan, also known as the ABLE Act (Achieving a Better Life Experience), was signed into effect in December 2014.  The goal of the 529A plan is to provide supplemental benefits to a disabled beneficiary.   This will allow families with a disabled child a way to save for that child’s long-term disability expenses that are not otherwise covered by needs-based government programs.  There are a number of qualifications for the 529A, such as the beneficiary must be disabled before age 26; and disqualifications and taxes will apply if the account balance exceeds $100,000.00.  Any funds remaining in the 529A account upon the disabled beneficiary’s death must be paid to the State up to an amount equal to the total medical assistance paid by the State on behalf of the disabled beneficiary.

The 529A Plan is not available for use yet because the States are waiting for Federal regulations to be enacted to clarify several aspects of the ABLE Act.  However, it looks like a step in the right direction to allow parents and grandparents to provide for a disabled child.

JensenBayles, LLP provides a broad spectrum of legal services.  Thomas J. Bayles has been actively providing advice in the areas of trusts, wills, probate and tax planning in the St. George market for over 15 years. Please visit our web site www.jensenbayles.com or call 435-674-9718 and ask for Thomas J. Bayles or Phillip G. Gubler.  The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as legal advice.

Erin Kimball Foundation Receives Grant

N E W S   R E L E A S E
News Release: Immediate

For more information contact:
Contact:  Sue Kimball
Telephone:  435 627-9232, 435-231-9536
sue.erinkimball@gmail.com

St. George, UT, February 20, 2015 —  “Congratulations! It's a testament to the importance of your mission that the Erin Kimball Foundation was selected for one of four grants out of 55 applicants,” Emily Caputo, Coordinator of the Utah Women’s Giving Circle shared in announcing the $5,000 award.  Focusing on empowering women and girls, the Utah Women’s Giving Circle brings donors and charities together to impact the health, education and well-being of women across the state.

The grant will assist women and their children fleeing violence in southwestern Utah with housing. The Kimball Foundation’s H.O.M.E. Housing, Options, Mentoring, Empowerment program assists families to move from the crisis of emergency shelters to independence through rental assistance and empowerment support.  “With funding cuts and escalating need, financial support from the community is vital to the families we serve and the continuation of our mission,” shared Sue Kimball.  “If a woman has the courage to leave a situation of terror, it will never be okay that she is forced to return to keep her children from becoming homeless.”

The Erin Kimball Foundation provides a lifeline while mom gains the skills and employment to support her family. To date the organization has provided over 220,000 nights of housing in apartment settings and served 187 women and 415 children in the Five County region.  To learn more about services or how you can assist visit www.erinkimball.org or call 435-627-9232.

Photo:
Utah Women of Giving grantees from left to right - Judy Kasten-Bell, Boys & Girls Clubs of Weber-Davis, Amanda Hughes, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake, Kristy Kimball, Erin Kimball Memorial Foundation, Esterlee Molyneux, Child & Family Support Center, Mary Southerland, Utah For Veterans