Earwax impaction, also known as earwax blockage, refers to a condition in which cerumen (wax) hardens within the ear canal and causes various problems. Earwax is constantly being made in the ear to help catch any bacteria or dirt. Fortunately, earwax impaction symptoms can be relieved with various treatments.
Earache
An earache can be a symptom of earwax impaction. The blockage can actually irritate the ear canal or middle ear and cause further problems. The University of Maryland Medical Center says that an earache refers to a dull, sharp or burning pain in both or just one of the ears.
Typical earache symptoms include ear pain, fussiness, irritability and increased crying and fever, especially in children.
An earache typically occurs because the earwax impaction results in an accumulation of fluid and pressure behind the eardrum. Other causes of an earache include arthritis of the jaw, a sinus infection, a sore throat and a tooth infection. An additional cause is a ruptured eardrum.
Treating the source of the earache typically relieves the pain. For example, removing the blocked earwax, taking antibiotics and inserting draining tubes into the ears are just some ways to treat an earache.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is another possible symptom of earwax impaction. The Cleveland Clinic says that tinnitus refers to a medical problem in which a person hears ringing, buzzing, hissing or whistling sounds in the ear. These sounds can be loud or soft in nature. In fact, the clinic says that 50 million Americans suffer from tinnitus.
Tinnitus is due not only to earwax buildup but also to loud noise exposure, head injuries, fluid buildup in the eardrum, low or high blood pressure, and problems in the jaw, teeth or blood vessels.
Tinnitus can be treated with the use of hearing aids, relaxation techniques and sound generators (which mask the noise). Other treatments involve avoiding smoking, alcohol and exposure to loud noises.
Hearing Loss
Earwax impaction can block the ear canal and lead to hearing loss. The Mayo Clinic says that symptoms of hearing loss include a muffled sound to speech, trouble understanding words and avoiding social settings. Other symptoms of hearing loss include turning up the volume on the radio or television and avoiding conversations with people.
Some other risk factors for hearing loss include heredity, chronic exposure to loud sounds, illnesses, such as meningitis, and medications, such as gentamycin.
Treating hearing loss involves removing wax from the ear, using a hearing aid or having a cochlear implant placed into the ear. Treatment depends upon the cause of the hearing loss.
