Painful Ear Wax Buildup? What Can You Do?

When you or your child has an earache, the only thing you want is for it to go away–the quicker the better.  Sometimes an earache is caused by a virus or other disease.  However, it’s often caused by earwax buildup, or an infection caused by wax buildup. 

A painful earwax blockage happens when earwax (cerumen) builds up, becomes impacted, and is too hard to wash away. Typically, earwax is helpful because it cleans and protects your ear canal by stunting the growth of bacteria and trapping dirt. 

If you suspect earwax blockage is causing you or a loved one pain, our hearing professionals at the Hearing Associates of Las Vegas can safely and efficiently remove the wax. 

What Are the Symptoms of Painful Earwax Buildup?

Earwax buildup has serval symptoms:

• Earache
• The feeling of fullness in the ear
• Hearing loss
• Tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, or roaring in the ears)
• Itchy ears
• Cough
• Pain
• Odor or discharge in the ear

What Causes Painful Earwax Buildup?

The glands in the skin of your outer ear canal make the wax in your ears. The tiny hairs of the ear and wax trap dust and particles that may damage the deeper part of your ear, like the eardrum. 

A tiny bit of earwax typically makes its way to the ear opening and is washed away or falls out. However, if too much ear wax is present (or if it’s not cleared well), it can build up and block your ear canal. 

And guess what? The biggest culprit that causes earwax blockages is attempting to get earwax out by using a cotton swab or Q-tip. This doesn’t remove the wax; it moves it deeper into the ear canal–and causes a blockage. 

Is Conductive Hearing Loss and Wax Buildup Connected?

Yes! Wax buildup is one of the most common causes of conductive hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss is when the movement of sound through the external or middle ear is blocked, and the sound does not fully reach the inner ear. 

Of course, earwax buildup and accompanying hearing loss can happen to anyone, but it commonly affects the developmentally disabled and older adults. Untreated hearing loss harms your entire life, leading to depression and even dementia. 

So, having your doctor or hearing professional help you with earwax buildup (or any other cause of hearing loss) is critical. 

How is Hearing Loss Caused by Earwax Treated?

Some people have an issue with reoccurring earwax buildup and need treatment every 6-8 months. If you need earwax removal, what will happen?

Some doctors or pharmacists will recommend particular ear drops to use regularly to loosen the impacted earwax. Unfortunately, there is no substantial evidence that ear drops effectively prevent earwax buildup.

Instead, ear irrigation or microsuction is suggested to remove earwax.  Ear irrigation–or ear syringing–is when a low-pressure water flow is pumped into the ear to flush the wax out. This is an effective and safe procedure for most people, though some people have a small risk of side effects. 

A slightly safer technique than irrigation, microsuction uses gentle suction to withdraw the earwax buildup. 

Are at-home Earwax Removal Treatments OK?

If you are experiencing hearing loss, you must consult with a hearing professional. You may have earwax buildup, or you may have something more serious. The sooner you catch and treat your hearing loss, the easier it is to treat. 

But what if you just have minor earwax buildup that isn’t too compacted? There are a couple of at-home remedies you can try:

• Ear drops- If you have minor wax buildup, you can ask your pharmacist for recommended drops to dissolve the wax and reduce the buildup. Contact your doctor if these do not work. 
• A bulb syringe- If the drops don’t work, you can use a bulb syringe filled with warm water to flood the ear and break up the wax.  Be gentle, and do not do this at home if you have ever had ear surgery or holes in your eardrums. If you are uncomfortable doing this, let us help you. 

Earwax Removal Strategies to Avoid

There are a couple of at-home earwax removal strategies that are unsafe and should be avoided:

• Ear Candles- Ear candles involve putting the end of a candle inside the ear and lighting the other end to melt the earwax and remove it. You could burn your skin or get hot candle wax lodged in your ear, causing permanent hearing loss. 
• Using Q-tips or Fingers- Sticking anything into your ear (other than pharmacist-recommended ear drops) is dangerous. You can permanently damage your ear and perforate your eardrum. If anything, this will push the earwax further into the ear, making your hearing loss worse. 

See Us For Painful Earwax Buildup

The best thing you can do for earwax that’s causing you pain or hearing loss is to consult with your doctor or hearing professional.  We can help you remove the painful earwax and regain your hearing.  

Call us today at the Hearing Associates of Las Vegas if you have any concerns or questions about earwax or hearing loss.