Earwax buildup is normal…until it’s not. If suddenly your hearing feels muffled on one side, or it feels like your ear is full or plugged, you might assume it will clear on its own. Sometimes it does, but sometimes you need to see a professional. The longer the symptoms of earwax buildup go, the worse it gets.

At Anne Arundel Audiology, we help patients with earwax concerns regularly. In fact, it’s one of the most common and underestimated hearing health issues we see. Here’s what you need to know about the causes, the symptoms, and what to do if you experience a “clogged” ear.

Key Takeaways:

Earwax is normal and protective, but earwax buildup can cause hearing loss, ear infections, dizziness, and even balance issues.
Cotton swabs push wax deeper and should never be used in your ears.
Ears are self-cleaning; you only need to intervene if issues arise.
Professional earwax removal is the safest, most effective option for significant buildup, especially for hearing aid users.

What Is Earwax and Why Does Your Body Make It?

While it’s not a common topic of discussion, earwax (cerumen) is a completely normal part of ear health. It actually serves a very important, protective function. The cerumen traps dust, debris, and bacteria, preventing them from reaching deeper structures in the ear. It helps to lubricate the ear canal and even offers a mild antibacterial protection.

The problem isn’t earwax itself. An earwax buildup happens when wax accumulates faster than it clears or when it gets pushed in your ears too deeply.

Cerumen is made by glands in your outer ear canal. Having earwax buildup isn’t a sign of poor hygiene; it just happens. The ear is largely self-cleaning. Jaw movement from talking and chewing naturally helps the old wax migrate toward the outer ear, where it simply dries and flakes away. For most people, most of the time, earwax takes care of itself.

But when earwax doesn’t clear, it can interfere with your hearing health. Some people’s bodies overproduce wax, and some wax is drier or stickier than average. Some folks have ear canal anatomy that makes it more difficult for their ears to naturally move the wax along and expel it on their own.

Most people reach for a cotton swab or similar object. But wait—stop!

A cotton swab disrupts the process entirely. In fact, it makes it worse. Pushing wax inward can cause buildup and clogging. This can even lead to ear infections and damage to your hearing. Hearing aid and earplug users are at higher risk, too, because these devices protect the ears but block the wax migration pathway.

You might also notice that as you get older, wax tends to become drier. It gets a lot harder for your ears to clear on their own as you age.

What Causes Earwax Buildup?

Earwax buildup is often genetic. Some people overproduce wax. Their bodies make more than their ears can clear out. Ear canal anatomy can compound the issue, especially if your ear canals are narrow or irregularly shaped. Combine that with aging, and you have a wax efficiency issue.

When someone visits us for an earwax concern, they often have a history of cotton swab use, which is the most common self-inflicted cause of buildup. The wax becomes compacted against the eardrum.

Hearing aid and earplug users also need to stay vigilant. However, if you are in high-noise environments, don’t ditch the earplugs. Some evidence suggests that frequent loud noise exposure can stimulate earwax production (and the loud noise can damage your hearing as well).

Other common causes are skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, which can affect the ear canal and lead to more buildup. Hair in the ear canal also traps wax and slows down migration. Hair growth also happens to be a natural part of the aging process.

Many patients assume they have a wax issue, only to find the issue is something else. Fluid behind the eardrum, infections, or eustachian tube dysfunction all cause similar symptoms—muffled noise, issues that seem to impact one ear more than the other, a feeling like the ear is “full.” A professional evaluation is the best way to know for sure.

Signs of Earwax Buildup:

Muffled or reduced hearing, particularly if it only occurs in one ear.
Feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear (like your ear needs to “pop”).
Ear pain or discomfort can indicate that wax is pressing on the eardrum.
Ringing or buzzing in the ear (tinnitus).
Itching inside the ear canal.
Odor or discharge, indicating the wax has caused an ear infection.
Dizziness or balance issues (the ear is crucial for balance, and wax buildup can impact the vestibular system).
Coughing (an unusual symptom caused by shared nerve pathways with the throat).

Common Questions about Earwax Buildup

Audiologists get a lot of questions about earwax. Here are some of the most common questions and what you need to know.

Can earwax cause hearing loss?

Yes. Conductive hearing loss caused by a blockage is a reversible form of hearing loss. Once the wax is removed, the hearing returns to normal right away.

Can earwax cause dizziness and balance issues?

Yes. Earwax that gets deep in the canal puts pressure on the eardrum and impacts the vestibular system. As a result, you may feel dizzy or have a sense of imbalance. This is surprisingly common.

Can earwax cause ear infections?

Yes, it can. Trapped wax causes your ear canal to become warm and moist—the perfect environment for bacteria to multiply. It’s also a contributing factor in some outer ear infections (otitis externa).

Can earwax cause sinus issues?

Interestingly, the answer to this is no. Earwax doesn’t affect the sinuses, with one big caveat. The symptoms of sinus issues overlap significantly. Pressure, congestion, and muffled hearing can be related to both conditions. So, if your sinus treatment doesn’t help your hearing symptoms, it’s worth ruling out an earwax buildup.

Can earwax get behind the eardrum?

No, eardrums form a complete barrier that wax cannot pass through. However, wax that presses against the eardrum causes pain and significant hearing disruptions.

How Much Earwax is Too Much?

There is no universal “normal” when it comes to earwax. The amount, color, and texture vary widely between people. Color can range from pale yellow to dark brown. Color doesn’t indicate a problem on its own. Darker wax is usually older. If you can see wax clearly at the entrance of the ear canal, you may be concerned. But typically that’s actually a positive sign, indicating the wax is on its way out.

The question isn’t about analyzing your earwax, or even how much you produce. It’s finding out if that earwax causes symptoms.

However, if you’re noticing hearing changes, fullness, pain, or any symptoms like those listed above, the amount is too much. Regardless of what it looks like or how much there is. Symptoms in one ear often signal an earwax buildup issue. It’s a stronger indication than vague bilateral complaints, which may have other causes.

The bottom line is that when you’re in doubt, have a professional look. It takes just seconds and helps eliminate all the guesswork. We can help you figure out if wax is a problem or if it’s just a regular part of ear health.

Why Cotton Swabs Are the Wrong Answer for Earwax Buildup

Cotton swabs can be very tempting to use. They fit right in your ear canal, and many of us grew up being told to use them to clean our ears.

However, cotton swabs are the single most common cause of impacted earwax. They push the wax into the ear and up against the eardrum. If you’ve heard the phrase, “nothing smaller than your elbow,” it’s because audiologists know that cotton swabs are a big concern.

There are other things to avoid as well. You may see advice about using ear candles. There is no clinical evidence of effectiveness here. In fact, there’s a much higher risk of burns, wax dripping in the canal, and eardrum perforation.

Never use sharp objects in your ears. Bobby pins were more common decades ago, but they should still never go in your ear. The risk of canal laceration and eardrum damage is high.

Also, avoid strategies to “clean” or “clear” your ears. Hydrogen peroxide can be appropriate, and suggested by your ear health professional in some cases, but it should never be used if you don’t know the condition of your eardrum. The same goes for irrigation kits. Without professional guidance, the pressurized water can damage the eardrum, especially if there’s a perforation.

The main thing to remember is that your ears are self-cleaning by design. In most cases, the best thing to do is to leave the ear alone. When it needs help, that help should come from a professional.

Safe Options for Earwax Management

You might be wondering what you do for mild, occasional earwax buildup. If you aren’t experiencing symptoms of concern, mild softening drops (carbamide peroxide) can help the wax migrate naturally. But it’s always best to check with your provider first. Particularly if you have a history of ear issues.

Otherwise, use warm water to rinse the outer ear only. Don’t direct water pressure into your ear. Just clean and dry your ears after a shower or swimming—for this, a towel works just fine.

What do ear professionals use to clear earwax blockages or buildups? If you visit an audiologist or medical professional, they can help you choose the best course of action. Sometimes they may perform a process called irrigation or lavage. This is where controlled warm water irrigation is performed by a trained professional.

A professional may use a small, specialized instrument called a curette, which is used to manually remove the earwax. When you visit an audiologist, they will look at exactly what’s happening before they touch anything in your ear. DIY earwax removal methods are blind. You don’t know if you have a perforation, a tube, or a structural issue that could change the approach entirely.

At Anne Arundel Audiology, we evaluate and remove earwax safely and comfortably, so you never have to rely on risky guesswork.

Earwax and Hearing Aid Users

A hearing aid blocks the ear canal physically, and leads to significantly more earwax buildup, because the wax cannot be expelled on its own. Wax is also the leading cause of hearing aid malfunction. It clogs receivers, microphones, and wax guards.

That’s why hearing aid users should have their earwax checked at every hearing aid appointment or at a minimum, every few months.

If your hearing aids sound more muffled than usual, if feedback has increased, or the aids seem to be underperforming, it’s a good idea to check them out. Even if they have fresh batteries or a recent charge, earwax could be getting in the way of their performance.

Regular hearing aid cleaning at Anne Arundel Audiology helps you avoid wax-related hearing aid issues before they impact performance.

Earwax is one of the most common sources of hearing difficulty, yet it’s also the most fixable. The symptoms are easy to overlook and to attribute to something else, and the solution is often simple, especially when you catch it early.

You should avoid trying to resolve earwax buildup yourself. Just say no to cotton swabs, candles, aggressive irrigation, and other home remedies, because the risk just isn’t worth it. Professional evaluation is quick, comfortable, and conclusive, and can help you resolve earwax issues.

At Anne Arundel Audiology, we see earwax concerns regularly and can evaluate, clean, and advise based on your specific ear anatomy and history. If your hearing seems off, if your ears feel full, or if you’re experiencing any symptoms of earwax buildup, don’t wait. Reach out today and protect your ear health.

Earwax Buildup: Causes, Symptoms, and When to See an Audiologist