Ear wax, or cerumen, is a fatty mixture produced by glands in the ear canal. Ear wax protects the ear by trapping dirt. Its acidic pH slows the growth of bacteria and fungus, preventing infection. Some people overproduce ear wax, which can cause it to become dried or impacted in the ear canal. See your health care provider for an ear examination if you experience symptoms of excessive wax. He can remove the wax plug with a hook-like tool. If the wax is too soft for this, he can flush it out with water. According to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, nearly 8 million cerumen removal procedures are performed by doctors annually. Never try to remove wax by yourself with cotton swabs; swabs can cause further impaction of the wax, making the problem worse.
Ear Ringing
If you experience a ringing in your ears, it could be due to excessive ear wax or other conditions. Ear ringing or buzzing is called tinnitus. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), tinnitus is caused when the acoustic nerve in your ear sends impulses to the brain. The impulses are the result of a stimulus inside the ear instead of vibrations produced by external sound waves. The noise sometimes changes in intensity but is most often continuous.
Earache
Earaches are usually caused by ear infections but they can also be caused by excess ear wax that is impacted in the ear canal. The ear hurts and the pain is fairly constant.
Ear Pressure
Excessive ear wax can lead to a feeling of fullness in the ear canal. The feeling can become more intense if water enters the ear, making the wax swell.
Ear Itching
Prolonged blockage of the ear canal by wax can inflame the skin of the canal, causing irritation and itching. It is important not to give in to the itch by scratching the ear canal with your finger or things like a hairpin because that can damage the canal or your ear drum.
Hearing Loss
Excess wax that clogs the ear canal can prevent sound waves from entering the ear properly, leading to a decrease in the ability to hear. Sounds may be muffled in one or both ears. According to the AMA, this is called conductive deafness. Once the earwax is removed, hearing should return to normal.
References
- Michael Teixido, M.D.: Earwax and Ear Canal Infections
- "Encyclopedia of Medicine;" The American Medical Association; 1989
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center: Hearing Specialist Leads Effort to Craft First Professional Guidelines for Earwax
