The Problems with Too Much Earwax

Earwax is a very common occurrence in many of us. Although it may seem a nuisance, it is there to protect our ears from any external debris, such as dirt and bacteria. We all have different types of earwax depending on our ethnic makeup and the size of our ear canals, but they are usually made up of two different types: wet or dry.

Earwax also works to prevent water from becoming trapped inside the ear, which could lead to infections and with its antifungal and antibacterial properties, it can be a big help, but what happens if there is too much earwax?

What Causes Too Much Earwax?

The body is very efficient at removing earwax and usually removes it through the actions of talking or chewing as the jaw movement causes the earwax to move from the inner ear to the outer ear. But there can be excessive earwax build-up in many people. Approximately 12-million people in the United States get treated for too much earwax every year. Some of the most common reasons include.

Narrow Ear Shape

The individual’s ear arising from increased amounts of hair in the ear canal or numerous ear infections can cause buildup.

Trapped Earwax

This is something that is very normal as we get older, but it can also be caused by harmful earwax removal methods, such as using cotton swabs which can push the earwax back into the ear canal.

What Are the Symptoms of Too Much Earwax?

Specifically, in the context of your hearing, excess earwax can cause some of the following symptoms:

• Feeling like your ears are plugged, which will have a natural impact on your ability to hear properly. That sensation of feeling like there are earplugs in your ear will have a natural impact on your ability to follow conversations.
• Hearing loss: When we have too much earwax, we can have difficulty hearing, which may continue to worsen.
• Discomfort inside the ear or earache.
• Ringing in the ear, also known as tinnitus.

Who Experiences Excess Earwax?

It can happen to anybody, but it’s estimated to be in approximately five percent of healthy adults and 10% of healthy children. Some people who are more likely to experience earwax buildup include:

• People who put cotton swabs into their ears.
• People with different shaped ear canals, which can interfere with wax removal.
• People with excessive ear hair.
• Older people.
• People who use earplugs, earbuds or hearing aids.

How Do You Remove Excess Earwax?

While there are several ways to remove earwax, it’s important to avoid common home earwax removal methods, such as cotton swabs or ear candling, as they can damage your ears or push earwax further into your ear. Opting for earwax removal by an audiologist usually involves manual removal or irrigation with liquid.

How Can You Prevent Earwax Build-Up?

It’s always important to speak to people who have been trained in effective removal methods, such as an audiologist. But some of the following measures could help prevent excessive earwax build-up:

• Avoid wearing hearing aids or earplugs for up to eight hours at night-time.
• Regular ear cleaning every six to 12-months.

However, one of the best ways to prevent blockage caused by earwax buildup is to only use cotton swabs on the outside of the ear. As many people have got used to the habit of putting cotton swabs in their ears, this can cause long-term damage because the action doesn’t bring all of the earwax out. Also, because the ear canal is so thin, if you place a cotton swab in too far, it can cause long-term damage and impacted ears resulting from pushing the earwax further in.

Earwax is not a bad thing. As unsightly or unpleasant as it may be, earwax serves a very specific purpose – to keep your ears from getting infected. But if you let earwax build up, it can cause a variety of problems, such as irritating your ears and preventing you from hearing to the best of your ability. Having excessive earwax doesn’t have to be an issue.

As it’s something that we can all experience, a combination of knowing how to clean it properly as well as the right advice can make all of the difference. If you want to speak to someone about your earwax concerns, you can call Rametta Audiology & Hearing Aid Center at Tarentum: (724) 409-4439 and Vandergrift: (724) 567-3233 and we will be happy to help.