What You Should Know About Earwax Accumulation

Don’t neglect cleaning your ears. It’s hard not to say that in your “parenting” voice. Maybe you even remember getting that advice as a kid. As you get caught up in past nostalgia, that kind of memory can take you back to simpler times.

But that advice can be rather helpful. Your hearing can be substantially impacted by an overabundance of earwax. And on top of that, earwax can solidify inside your ear and become really difficult to clean. Bottom line, you’ll be best off keeping those ears clean.

Excessive earwax? Eww!

We get it, earwax is not the most pleasing of substances. And we’re not going to attempt to change your mind about that. But earwax does serve a purpose. Produced by special glands in your ear and churned outwards by the chewing motions of your jaw, earwax can help keep dirt and dust out of your ears.

In other words, the ideal amount of earwax can help keep your ears clean and healthy. It may seem weird, but earwax doesn’t suggest poor hygiene.

An excessive amount of earwax is where the trouble begins. And, naturally, it can sometimes be a bit difficult to tell when a healthy amount of earwax begins to outweigh its advantages (literally).

What is the consequence of excess earwax?

So, what happens as a result of accumulated earwax? There are several issues that could arise as a result of out-of-control earwax or earwax that builds up over time. Here are a few:

• Tinnitus: When you hear buzzing and ringing that isn’t actually there, you’re probably suffering from a condition known as tinnitus. Earwax accumulation can cause tinnitus symptoms to worsen or to appear.
• Earache: An earache is one of the most prevalent indications of excess earwax. It doesn’t have to hurt too much (though, sometimes it can). This is usually a result of the earwax creating pressure somewhere it shouldn’t.
• Dizziness: Your ability to manage balance depends greatly on your inner ear. You can suffer from episodes of dizziness and balance issues when your inner ear is having issues.
• Infection: Excessive earwax can lead to ear infections. Sometimes, that’s because the earwax can trap fluid where it shouldn’t be.

These are just a few. Neglected earwax can trigger painful headaches. Excessive earwax can interfere with the functionality of hearing aids. So excessive earwax may make you think your hearing aids are having problems.

Can your hearing be affected by earwax?

The quick answer is yes. Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent problems linked to excess earwax. When earwax accumulates in the ear canal it produces a blockage of sound causing a kind of hearing loss called conductive hearing loss. The problem normally clears up when the earwax is extracted, and usually, your hearing will go back to normal.

But there can be long-term damage caused by accumulated earwax, especially if the buildup gets severe enough. The same is true of earwax-caused tinnitus. It’s normally not permanent. But the longer the extra earwax hangs around (that is, the longer you neglect the symptoms), the bigger the danger of long-term damage.

Prevention, treatment, or both?

If you want to protect your hearing, then it makes sense to keep an eye on your earwax. It’s improper cleaning, not excess production that leads to buildup in most cases (a cotton swab, for example, will often compress the earwax in your ear rather than getting rid of it, eventually leading to a blockage).

It will usually require professional eradication of the wax that has become hardened to the point that you can’t get rid of it. You’ll be able to start hearing again as soon as you get that treatment and then you can start over, cleaning your ears the correct way.