Yes. Built-up earwax can lead to conductive hearing loss, which occurs when something prevents sound from traveling through your middle ear. Luckily, earwax buildup can be treated by a general physician, audiologist, or ENT specialist.
What is an Earwax Blockage?
Earwax, or cerumen, is produced by glands in your outer ear canal and combines with dead skin cells. That substance acts as a protective barrier that prevents bacteria and debris from getting into your ears. Earwax also helps clean and lubricate your ear canal to prevent itching and irritation.
An impaction is a hardened buildup that lodges in your ear canal and prevents sound waves from traveling through your ear.
How Common are Total Earwax Blockages?
Sound waves only require a small amount of space to travel. Even if you have extensive earwax buildup, you’ll likely still be able to hear sounds, though they may be muffled. Total earwax blockages are rare and usually require professional removal.
Earwax Blockage Causes
Your body may produce earwax at a higher rate, increasing your risk of a blockage. Earwax also becomes harder and drier with age, so older individuals are also more susceptible.
Narrow or misshapen ear canals can make it difficult for your body to naturally expel ear wax. Bony growths and tumors also create obstacles that can throw a wrench in the expulsion process.
Your ears contain tiny hairs that help trap dirt and bacteria in cerumen. Excessively hairy ear canals could be another potential cause of earwax blockages.
Symptoms of an Earwax Blockage
- Earache or pain
- Odor or discharge
- Temporary hearing loss
- Tinnitus
- Itching or irritation
- Ear infection
- Sense of fullness in your ear
- Dizziness
- Cough
When Should I See a Doctor?
Contact your doctor or audiologist as soon as you experience symptoms of an earwax blockage or hearing loss. You can still have an obstruction without presenting typical symptoms, so it’s important to have your ear checked by a professional. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience serious ear pain or bleeding.
Treating Earwax Blockages
You can visit an audiologist to treat an earwax blockage. They will use an otoscope to look inside your ear and determine the extent of the obstruction. An audiologist may also conduct a simple hearing test to assess whether the wax buildup is causing hearing loss.
You may undergo one of the following professional treatments:
Ear irrigation: This method of removing earwax involves using an electric pump to push saline or water into your canal to loosen and dislodge hardened cerumen.
Microsuction: An audiologist inserts a tool with a thin nozzle into your canal to suction earwax out.
Manual removal: Healthcare providers have special tools to manually loosen and remove cerumen from your canal.
How to Remove Earwax That’s Causing Hearing Loss
You should never stick cotton swabs or other objects in your ear to try and dislodge a blockage. Doing so can push the obstruction further into your canal or tear your eardrum.
Clean your ears safely with over-the-counter ear drops. They’re available at most pharmacies and can soften and loosen stuck earwax. However, you should avoid using ear drops if you have a hole or tear in your eardrum.
You can also use a rubber bulb syringe to gently squirt warm water into your ear. Take care not to push the nozzle too deep into your canal.
Safe Earwax Removal at Hearing Associates
Our expert team offers comprehensive audiology services to support you on your journey to better hearing. We can remove excess earwax safely and without pain to reduce the effect of conductive hearing loss. Call 888-760-2032 or schedule your appointment online.