Your Ear Health Matters
What is Ear Wax and Why Do Our Ears Get Blocked?
Ear wax is a natural substance that helps to keep our ears clean and healthy. It catches dirt and dust, and also keeps the skin inside our ears moist. However, problems can arise when there is too much ear wax or it becomes hard and compacted. This can lead to issues like hearing loss, pain, itchiness, dizziness, or a ringing sound in the ears.
Anyone can experience blocked ears, regardless of age. Some common reasons for this include having small ear canals, using ear plugs or headphones, or cleaning the ears with cotton buds. People who use hearing aids may face blockage too, as the wax can build up around the device and get stuck.
If you've got a lot of ear wax, it’s best to see a trained professional for removal. Methods like irrigation or microsuction are recommended by theNational Institute of Clinical Excellence as a safe and effective ways to clear it out.
When does ear wax become a problem?
A little ear wax is perfectly normal and healthy. However, occasionally ear wax can block your ears. This usually occurs when it has been pushed into the ear canal by a person attempting to remove it themselves. Commonly this is done by cotton buds, hairpins, paper clips or other items people use to try and remove wax.
The most recognisable symptoms of excessive ear wax are:
- Partial or total hearing loss
- Itching
- Fullness
- Ringing
- Dizziness
- Occasionally pain
Ear wax should only ever be removed by a fully-trained
professional. The ear is an incredibly sensitive organ
and the slightest slip can cause long-term damage, so
attempting to remove it yourself is not recommended.
