Earwax blockage occurs when earwax (cerumen) accumulates in your ear or becomes too hard to wash away naturally.
Earwax is a helpful and natural part of your body's defenses. It protects your ear canal by trapping dirt and slowing the growth of bacteria. It's not known why some people experience earwax blockage or why earwax blockage often occurs in only one ear.
If earwax blockage becomes a problem, you or your doctor can take simple steps to remove the wax safely.
SYMPTOMS
Signs and symptoms of earwax blockage may include:
Earache Feeling of fullness in the affected ear Ear noise (tinnitus) Decreased hearing in the affected ear
See your doctor if you're experiencing the signs and symptoms of earwax blockage,
Signs and symptoms could indicate another condition. You may think you can deal with earwax on your own, but there's no way to know if you have excessive earwax without having someone, usually your doctor, look into your ears. Having signs and symptoms, such as earache or decreased hearing, doesn't necessarily mean you have wax buildup. Even if you've had a past problem with earwax, you can't be sure that wax buildup is the cause of your current symptoms. It's possible you have another medical condition involving your ears that may need attention.
Wax removal is most safely done by doctor. Asking your doctor to remove earwax may seem unnecessary, but your ear canal and eardrum are delicate and can be damaged easily by excess earwax. Don't try to remove earwax yourself with any device placed into your ear canal, especially if you've had ear surgery, have a hole (perforation) in your eardrum, or are having ear pain or drainage.
Children usually have their ears checked as part of any medical examination. If necessary, a doctor can remove excess earwax from your child's ear during an office visit.
CAUSES
In most people, a small amount of earwax regularly makes its way to the opening of the ear, where it's washed away or falls out as new wax is secreted to replace it. If you secrete an excessive amount of wax or if earwax isn't cleared effectively, it may build up and block your ear canal.
Additionally, earwax blockages commonly occur when people try to clean their ears on their own by placing cotton swabs or other items in their ears. This often just pushes wax deeper into the ear, rather than removing it.
The wax in your ears is secreted by glands in the skin that lines the outer half of your ear canals. The wax and tiny hairs in these passages trap dust and other foreign particles that could damage deeper structures, such as your eardrum.
COMPLICATIONS
Earwax blockage occurs when earwax (cerumen) accumulates in your ear or becomes too hard to wash away naturally.
Earwax is a helpful and natural part of your body's defenses. It protects your ear canal by trapping dirt and slowing the growth of bacteria. It's not known why some people experience earwax blockage or why earwax blockage often occurs in only one ear.
If earwax blockage becomes a problem, you or your doctor can take simple steps to remove the wax safely.
DIAGNOSIS
Your doctor can determine whether you have earwax blockage by looking in your ear with an otoscope, a special instrument that lights and magnifies your inner ear.
TREATMENT
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwoDux4xaA-mUbkg1tpt44nwVrCiVIeWJjq0vVuN0hi2brmcPoYcgiTrWJhOEM2cg_tNL5ZepTUUrL52WfiyEG6Dt3OKyRl6E_e9gXLNLIlnDSDs2mQ-H3aIHyDMAeZLgWZ6li0nel-TL/s320/Earwax+blockage+1.jpg)
Your doctor can remove excess wax using a small, curved instrument called a curette or by using suction while inspecting the ear. Your doctor can also flush out the wax using a water pick or a rubber-bulb syringe filled with warm water.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7B-DKtsbidAsfh9o6VOFuR2X8BfnWXW8KREJboHTKW8ZcSNjazZSfG3ZSk455-fdTE7VA1w1ajVzjzOqPnyq19Dw_NjXGXzd38qNs-91POVNa8OFylcQa1r7MCDILLh-P61HsW1r8l-EQ/s200/Earwax+blockage+suction.jpg)
If earwax buildup is a recurring problem, your doctor may recommend that you use a wax-removal medication, such as carbamide peroxide (Debrox, Murine Earwax Removal Drops), every four to eight weeks as a preventive measure. Because these drops can irritate the delicate skin of the eardrum and ear canal, use them sparingly and only on the advice of your physician.
Earwax is a helpful and natural part of your body's defenses. It protects your ear canal by trapping dirt and slowing the growth of bacteria. It's not known why some people experience earwax blockage or why earwax blockage often occurs in only one ear.
If earwax blockage becomes a problem, you or your doctor can take simple steps to remove the wax safely.
SYMPTOMS
Signs and symptoms of earwax blockage may include:
Earache Feeling of fullness in the affected ear Ear noise (tinnitus) Decreased hearing in the affected ear
See your doctor if you're experiencing the signs and symptoms of earwax blockage,
Signs and symptoms could indicate another condition. You may think you can deal with earwax on your own, but there's no way to know if you have excessive earwax without having someone, usually your doctor, look into your ears. Having signs and symptoms, such as earache or decreased hearing, doesn't necessarily mean you have wax buildup. Even if you've had a past problem with earwax, you can't be sure that wax buildup is the cause of your current symptoms. It's possible you have another medical condition involving your ears that may need attention.
Wax removal is most safely done by doctor. Asking your doctor to remove earwax may seem unnecessary, but your ear canal and eardrum are delicate and can be damaged easily by excess earwax. Don't try to remove earwax yourself with any device placed into your ear canal, especially if you've had ear surgery, have a hole (perforation) in your eardrum, or are having ear pain or drainage.
Children usually have their ears checked as part of any medical examination. If necessary, a doctor can remove excess earwax from your child's ear during an office visit.
CAUSES
In most people, a small amount of earwax regularly makes its way to the opening of the ear, where it's washed away or falls out as new wax is secreted to replace it. If you secrete an excessive amount of wax or if earwax isn't cleared effectively, it may build up and block your ear canal.
Additionally, earwax blockages commonly occur when people try to clean their ears on their own by placing cotton swabs or other items in their ears. This often just pushes wax deeper into the ear, rather than removing it.
The wax in your ears is secreted by glands in the skin that lines the outer half of your ear canals. The wax and tiny hairs in these passages trap dust and other foreign particles that could damage deeper structures, such as your eardrum.
COMPLICATIONS
Earwax blockage occurs when earwax (cerumen) accumulates in your ear or becomes too hard to wash away naturally.
Earwax is a helpful and natural part of your body's defenses. It protects your ear canal by trapping dirt and slowing the growth of bacteria. It's not known why some people experience earwax blockage or why earwax blockage often occurs in only one ear.
If earwax blockage becomes a problem, you or your doctor can take simple steps to remove the wax safely.
DIAGNOSIS
Your doctor can determine whether you have earwax blockage by looking in your ear with an otoscope, a special instrument that lights and magnifies your inner ear.
TREATMENT
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwoDux4xaA-mUbkg1tpt44nwVrCiVIeWJjq0vVuN0hi2brmcPoYcgiTrWJhOEM2cg_tNL5ZepTUUrL52WfiyEG6Dt3OKyRl6E_e9gXLNLIlnDSDs2mQ-H3aIHyDMAeZLgWZ6li0nel-TL/s320/Earwax+blockage+1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXFBoEoTLXzyjmohITVFlSmiqsWNuiWXP6U5xbXQs4GfL5rkSBpsK-F6NPkCqDQnmcpXJhcWRGra_spLk6fT02mK0zn2_4J4KU7SjmTlP9omP4ZW9ukkS7FsJZcnfHiRCfUd36dcDDUHd/s200/Earwax+blockage+suction+2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7B-DKtsbidAsfh9o6VOFuR2X8BfnWXW8KREJboHTKW8ZcSNjazZSfG3ZSk455-fdTE7VA1w1ajVzjzOqPnyq19Dw_NjXGXzd38qNs-91POVNa8OFylcQa1r7MCDILLh-P61HsW1r8l-EQ/s200/Earwax+blockage+suction.jpg)
If earwax buildup is a recurring problem, your doctor may recommend that you use a wax-removal medication, such as carbamide peroxide (Debrox, Murine Earwax Removal Drops), every four to eight weeks as a preventive measure. Because these drops can irritate the delicate skin of the eardrum and ear canal, use them sparingly and only on the advice of your physician.
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