If your ear is compacted with wax, you may hear ringing in the ear, have difficulty hearing or experience a feeling of discomfort in the ear. Luckily, earwax blockage is not permanent and can be removed by a doctor. To prevent your ear from becoming compacted again, determine the cause of your earwax blockage.
Wax Overproduction
Your body may naturally produce too much earwax than is needed to effectively prevent dirt and other debris from getting into the ear. If your ear consistently gets clogged with wax, it may harden and block the eardrum, causing hearing loss and discomfort, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center website article "Wax Blockage." Your doctor may prescribe wax-dissolving ear drops to use on a regular basis to prevent your wax overproduction from causing compacted earwax, particularly if your blockage is a chronic problem.
Improper Cleaning Technique
If you do not clean your ears correctly, wax may be pushed back in the ear canal, causing an impaction when the wax hardens and gets stuck. Cleaning your ear by jamming a cotton swab or your finger into your ear canal may compact the wax further into the eardrum. Instead, allow the wax to migrate out of the ear naturally and wipe the external ear carefully with a washcloth to clean it. Using an at-home ear irrigation kit that directs water into the ear may flush out the ear, removing the wax blockage. However, be sure to check with your doctor first before using home remedies.
Foreign Objects
Placing an object in the ear, like a hairpin or a paperclip, may push the wax into the ear, compacting it and creating a blockage. Young children may place foreign objects into the ear out of curiosity, and even an adult may erroneously place a hairpin in the ear to scratch an itch he can't reach. Sticking foreign objects in the ear is dangerous and may puncture the eardrum, which may cause hearing loss. See a doctor if any of these scenarios occurs and causes compacted wax.
