Earwax build-up
কানে ময়লা জমা
Common Symptoms
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
Your ears make earwax to keep themselves clean, and most of the time it simply falls out on its own. Sometimes too much builds up, and then it can block the ears.
Earwax build-up is a common problem. You can often treat it with eardrops bought from a pharmacy.
Symptoms of earwax build up
When earwax builds up in your ear, it can cause:
- earache
- hearing loss
- tinnitus (hearing sounds from inside your body)
- itchiness in or around the ear
- ear infections
These problems usually get better once the earwax build-up has been removed.
Read more: Earache · Hearing loss · Tinnitus · Middle ear infection (otitis media)
What to do if you think your ear is blocked
Don't try to remove earwax build-up yourself with your fingers, a cotton bud or any other object. You can damage your ear this way, and you may push the wax further down.
Try eardrops
If earwax is only causing minor problems, you can try eardrops from a pharmacy. Your hearing or symptoms may get a little worse at first before they get better. The drops help soften the earwax so that it falls out naturally.
There are several types of eardrops you can use, including drops containing:
- sodium bicarbonate
- olive oil
- almond oil
Eardrops aren't suitable for everyone, and some can irritate the skin. Don't use them if you have a hole or tear in your eardrum.
Speak to your pharmacist about the right product for you, and read the leaflet that comes with it.
See a doctor if:
- you're worried about your symptoms
- eardrops haven't helped after 1 week
How earwax build up is diagnosed
Your doctor will look inside your ears to check whether they're blocked with earwax. They might also do a few simple hearing tests.
Treatments to remove earwax
If medicine from the pharmacy doesn't work, see your doctor.
Treatments may include:
- ear irrigation: a quick and painless procedure where an electric pump pushes water into your ear and washes the earwax out
- microsuction: a quick and painless procedure where a small device sucks the earwax out of your ear (you may need to be referred for this)
These treatments are not suitable for everyone. Your doctor can talk this through with you.
If they don't help, your doctor may refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist.
What causes earwax build up?
Some people get blocked ears again and again because they naturally produce a lot of earwax. Other causes of earwax build-up include:
- producing naturally hard or dry earwax
- having narrow or hairy ear canals (the tube between the opening of the ear and the eardrum)
- being elderly, as earwax becomes drier with age
- bony growths in the outer part of the ear canal
Earwax can also block your ear if you often put objects into it, such as cotton buds, ear plugs or hearing aids.