Earwax is something you likely don’t think about until it becomes a problem, and perhaps the biggest problem is when it builds up and blocks your ear canal. This can lead to obstructive hearing loss.
Clearing the wax clears the hearing loss, so it’s not a major issue in the grand scheme, but it’s a distraction you can do without. Understanding how earwax builds up as well as how to prevent it and treat it when it happens, can keep you hearing well.
In rare cases, you might need medical help with a serious blockage. Call on our team at Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates, your ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists in Lawrence and Ottawa, when earwax becomes an issue.
Today, let’s look at the causes, treatments, and prevention methods to help you and your family with any earwax problem.
Earwax is made up of a combination of secretions from sebaceous and sweat glands mixed with skin cells that your body sloughs off during the constant regeneration of the skin. The consistency of cerumen (the medical name of earwax) varies between people, as does the amount produced.
Normally, your body expels earwax by advancing it along the ear canal as you chew and talk. You may never be aware of this. Problems usually begin when the movement cycle is interrupted.
Accumulations of earwax can block the ear canal, inhibiting sound from reaching the eardrum. Causes of this include:
Earwax production is partway down the ear canal. Anything that pushes wax deeper moves it beyond the range of expulsion by jaw movement.
As well as noticing sounds are muffled, hearing loss from impacted cerumen may also produce symptoms like:
Symptoms can develop slowly, so wax buildup may not be suspected, since your brain adapts to hearing loss, resetting your perception of “normal” hearing. Pushing a wax blockage deeper into your ear canal might cause a fast-occurring hearing loss.
Use baby oil, mineral oil, or olive oil at room temperature as an earwax solvent. Place a few drops in the affected ear and keep your head tilted to let these soak in for five minutes. Repeat this several times a day for several days. In many cases, the softened wax will expel in a day or two.
A 50/50 mix of hydrogen peroxide and water can also help. Over-the-counter (OTC) eardrops made expressly for softening earwax are also available.
If you don’t notice a wax plug after a few days of softening, use a rubber bulb filled with lukewarm water to gently flush your ear. Keep any oil, water, or other solution used between room temperature and your natural body temperature to avoid triggering vertigo.
Don’t insert any object into the ear canal. Cotton swabs may be a leading cause of wax impaction. Instead, use a washcloth to wipe out the outer ear.
If you wear hearing aids or frequently use ear buds or earplugs, make regular appointments to have your ears examined for buildup.
If you experience persistent hearing loss, pain, drainage, or frequently recurring wax blockages, contact Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates, online or by phone, to schedule an ear exam at our most convenient location. Plan your visit at the first sign of symptoms.
