Without earwax, the ear canal would become dry, waterlogged, and prone to infection. However, when earwax accumulates or becomes hard, it can cause problems, including hearing loss.
If too much earwax builds up and becomes hard, it can form a plug that blocks the ear. A blocked ear may be painful and can affect hearing. Placing cotton swabs and other objects in the ear can push the earwax further down into the canal and make the problem worse. People who produce a lot of earwax are more likely to have an earwax blockage and impaction, which is where the wax gets pushed deep inside the ear canal.
Hearing aids and earplugs prevent wax from falling out of the ear naturally, which leads to its accumulation inside the ear. The use of items to remove earwax or relieve itching can make the buildup worse. These items can push the wax deeper into the ear canal.
They can also harm the sensitive tissues of the ear, possibly leading to permanent damage. People should carry out any cleaning or removal of earwax under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Some people are more likely than others to have earwax problems.
People who tend to collect more earwax in their ears include:. People with learning difficulties often have earwax problems, but the reason for this is unclear. One way to remove excess earwax at home is to wipe around the outside of the ear with a washcloth. People can also use the following solutions, which are usually also available from a pharmacy, as ear drops:. To use the ear drops, people should tilt their head so that the affected ear faces upward, place one or two drops in it, and wait for 1—2 minutes in this position.
They should then tilt their head so that the ear faces down and allow any liquid to drain out. If people do this twice a day, the earwax will usually come out within 2 weeks.
It often tends to do this at night while a person is asleep. People should never use a cotton swab or another item to try to extract earwax. Inserting objects into the ear canal can damage sensitive tissues in the ear and make the impaction worse. If home remedies do not work, people should seek medical advice rather than trying to remove the earwax themselves. The way you get rid of it - you take a bulb syringe and you fill it with warm water by squeezing the air out first, dipping it in water, picking it up, and then just gently flush with the warm water.
That'll help the drops come out, help some of that melted wax to come out. And then to get rid of that extra water in there, you tilt your head to the side, the other side down, and gently move your ear around in a circle like this and you should get the extra water drops out as well.
You can do that a couple times a day for about 4 days and usually that'll take care of even a pretty serious ear wax build-up. The ear may become blocked with wax again in the future.
Hearing loss is often temporary. In most cases, hearing returns completely after the blockage is removed. Hearing aid users should have their ear canal checked for excess wax every 3 to 6 months. Rarely, trying to remove ear wax may cause an infection in the ear canal.
This can also damage the eardrum. Riviello RJ. Otolaryngologic procedures. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Clinical practice guideline update : earwax cerumen impaction. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. PMID: pubmed. Whitaker M.
Office-based procedures in otology. Operative Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Editorial team. While sometimes bothersome, earwax is a natural part of your ear health. You should avoid removing earwax with objects because this can worsen the problem. In severe cases, cotton swabs can even damage the eardrum or ear canal. If you suspect you have earwax buildup or blockage, see your doctor for assistance. Hydrogen peroxide is one of several home remedies for earwax removal. Learn more about why this works, how to try it, and other treatment options.
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A clogged ear may not cause pain, but muffled sounds and straining to hear can be a real nuisance. We'll tell you the possible causes. Here are some tips for how to safely clean your ears. Earwax blockage can occur when your body produces too much earwax or when the existing wax is pushed too far into your ear canal.
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Ear irrigation is a routine procedure used to remove excess earwax, called cerumen, or foreign materials from the ear. Proponents of ear candling claim it can clear earwax out of the ear. But researchers point to possible injury. Learn what the research says. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.
Earwax Buildup and Blockage. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Causes Signs and symptoms Treatment Medical help Ear candles Outlook We include products we think are useful for our readers.
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Skip to main content. Ear nose and throat. Home Ear nose and throat. Ear wax. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Symptoms of wax build up Wax keeps the ears clean Risk factors for ear wax blockage Diagnosis and treatment for ear wax blockage Prevention of ear wax blockage Where to get help.
The ear is made up of three different parts. The outer ear is the part you can see, the middle ear is separated from the outer ear by the eardrum and contains tiny bones that amplify sound waves, and the inner ear is where sound waves are translated into electrical impulses and sent to the brain.
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