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Have you noticed your hearing isn't quite what it used to be? Maybe conversations sound muffled, or you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves more often. Before you panic and assume it's permanent hearing loss, there's something you should know: earwax could be the culprit.
It sounds almost too simple, doesn't it? But here's the thing—earwax buildup is one of the most common and easily treatable causes of hearing loss. Yet so many people don't realize it's happening until their hearing is significantly affected.
At Earwax Removal Devon, we see this every single day. Patients come in worried they're losing their hearing permanently, only to discover that a quick, professional wax removal restores their hearing completely. Let's talk about how earwax affects your hearing, when you should be concerned, and what you can do about it.
How Earwax Causes Hearing Loss
To understand how earwax affects hearing, you need to know a bit about how sound travels through your ear.
Sound waves enter your ear canal and travel to your eardrum. The eardrum vibrates, sending these vibrations through three tiny bones in your middle ear to your inner ear, where they're converted into electrical signals that your brain interprets as sound.
Now, imagine a physical barrier blocking that pathway. That's exactly what happens when earwax builds up. The wax creates a blockage—called cerumen impaction—that prevents sound waves from reaching your eardrum effectively. The result? Conductive hearing loss.
The term "conductive" is important here. It means the hearing loss is caused by something blocking sound conduction through the outer or middle ear. This is different from sensorineural hearing loss, which involves damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve. Conductive hearing loss from earwax is temporary and reversible—once the wax is removed, your hearing returns to normal.
How Much Hearing Can You Lose from Earwax?
You might be surprised by how much impact earwax can have. Studies show that complete cerumen impaction can cause hearing loss of 30-45 decibels. To put that in perspective, normal conversation happens at around 60 decibels. If you've lost 40 decibels, you're missing a significant portion of everyday sounds.
Partial blockages cause less dramatic hearing loss, but even a 10-15 decibel reduction can make conversations difficult, especially in noisy environments. You might notice:
- Difficulty following group conversations
- Struggling to hear on the phone
- Turning up the TV or radio volume
- Missing doorbells or phone notifications
- Feeling like people are mumbling
Here's what's interesting: the hearing loss from earwax doesn't always correlate with how much wax is present. Sometimes a small amount of wax in just the right (or wrong) position can cause significant problems, whilst a larger amount might cause only mild symptoms.
Why Does Earwax Build Up in the First Place?
Earwax—or cerumen, to use its medical name—is actually a good thing. It's your body's natural defense system for your ears. It traps dust, bacteria, and other particles, preventing them from reaching your eardrum. It also has antibacterial properties and keeps your ear canal lubricated.
Under normal circumstances, earwax migrates naturally out of your ear canal as you talk, chew, and move your jaw. Old wax dries up and falls out, and new wax is produced to replace it. It's a self-cleaning system that works beautifully—until it doesn't.
Several factors can disrupt this natural process:
Narrow or Curved Ear Canals
Some people are born with ear canals that are narrower or more curved than average. This makes it harder for wax to migrate out naturally, increasing the risk of buildup.
Excessive Wax Production
Some people simply produce more wax than others. This can be genetic, or it can be influenced by factors like stress, diet, or hormonal changes.
Age-Related Changes
As you get older, your earwax tends to become drier and harder. This makes it more likely to become impacted. Older adults also often have more hair growth in the ear canal, which can trap wax.
Hearing Aids and Earbuds
Anything you put in your ear—hearing aids, earbuds, earplugs—can push wax deeper into the canal and prevent natural migration. Hearing aid users are particularly prone to wax buildup.
Cotton Buds and Self-Cleaning Attempts
I can't stress this enough: cotton buds push wax deeper into your ear canal. They compact it, making impaction more likely. The same goes for ear candles, bobby pins, or any other object people use to "clean" their ears.
Recognizing the Signs of Earwax-Related Hearing Loss
How do you know if earwax is affecting your hearing? Look out for these warning signs:
Hearing Symptoms
- Gradual or sudden decrease in hearing
- Muffled or distorted sounds
- Difficulty understanding speech, especially in background noise
- A feeling that sounds are "distant" or "underwater"
Physical Sensations
- A feeling of fullness or blockage in the ear
- Earache or discomfort (not always present)
- Itching in the ear canal
- Discharge or odor (if infection is also present)
Associated Symptoms
- Tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, or humming in the ears)
- Dizziness or vertigo (in severe cases)
- Coughing (the ear canal and throat share nerve pathways)
One key clue: if your hearing loss is worse in one ear than the other, earwax is a likely cause. Sensorineural hearing loss typically affects both ears more evenly.
When Earwax Isn't the Only Problem
Here's something important: not all hearing loss is caused by earwax. Sometimes earwax and other ear conditions coexist. You might have both wax buildup and age-related hearing loss, for example.
Red flags that suggest you need medical attention beyond wax removal include:
- Sudden hearing loss in one or both ears
- Hearing loss accompanied by severe pain
- Discharge that's bloody or foul-smelling
- Hearing loss after a head injury
- Hearing loss with severe dizziness or balance problems
- Persistent hearing loss after wax removal
If you experience any of these, see a GP or ENT specialist promptly. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss, for example, is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.
The Dangers of Ignoring Earwax Buildup
You might think, "It's just earwax—I can live with it." But leaving earwax impaction untreated can lead to complications:
Progressive Hearing Loss
The longer wax remains impacted, the more it can affect your hearing. This can impact your quality of life, making social interactions difficult and isolating.
Tinnitus
Earwax buildup can cause or worsen tinnitus. The constant ringing or buzzing can be distressing and affect sleep, concentration, and mental health.
Ear Infections
Impacted wax creates a warm, moist environment where bacteria and fungi can thrive. This can lead to outer ear infections (otitis externa), which cause pain, discharge, and further hearing loss.
Balance Problems
In severe cases, wax pressing against the eardrum can affect your balance, causing dizziness or vertigo.
Cognitive Decline
This one might surprise you, but research shows a link between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline. When your brain has to work harder to process sounds, it has less capacity for other tasks like memory and thinking. Whilst earwax-related hearing loss is temporary, prolonged periods of reduced hearing can still have an impact.
Safe Earwax Removal: What Works and What Doesn't
Let's talk about how to deal with earwax safely. There are right ways and wrong ways to approach this.
What NOT to Do
- Cotton buds: They push wax deeper and can damage your eardrum.
- Ear candles: These are dangerous and completely ineffective. Studies show they don't remove wax and can cause burns or wax deposits from the candle itself.
- Sharp objects: Bobby pins, keys, or anything else you might be tempted to use can cause serious injury.
- Excessive irrigation at home: DIY irrigation kits can be dangerous if not used correctly, especially if you have an undiagnosed eardrum perforation.
What DOES Work
Wax-Softening Drops
Over-the-counter drops containing olive oil, almond oil, or sodium bicarbonate can help soften wax. Use them for 3-5 days before attempting removal. However, drops alone often aren't enough for significant impaction.
Professional Microsuction
This is the gold standard for earwax removal. A trained practitioner uses a microscope and gentle suction to remove wax under direct vision. It's safe, effective, and doesn't involve water, making it suitable for people with perforated eardrums or hearing aids.
Professional Irrigation
Modern ear irrigation uses controlled, body-temperature water to flush out wax. It's effective for softer wax and is generally well-tolerated. However, it's not suitable for everyone—particularly those with eardrum perforations or grommets.
At Earwax Removal Devon, we offer both microsuction and irrigation. We assess your ears first and recommend the safest, most effective method for your situation.
How Quickly Does Hearing Return After Wax Removal?
Here's the good news: if earwax is the only cause of your hearing loss, your hearing should return to normal immediately after removal. Most patients notice an instant improvement—sounds are clearer, sharper, and louder.
Some people experience a brief period of sensitivity to sound after removal, especially if the wax has been present for a long time. This is normal and usually settles within a few hours as your brain readjusts to the full range of sounds.
If your hearing doesn't improve after wax removal, it suggests there's another underlying cause. In this case, we'd recommend seeing an audiologist for a full hearing test or consulting your GP for further investigation.
Preventing Earwax Buildup and Hearing Loss
Prevention is always better than cure. Here's how to reduce your risk of earwax-related hearing loss:
Don't Over-Clean Your Ears
Your ears are self-cleaning. Resist the urge to use cotton buds or other objects. Clean only the outer part of your ear with a damp cloth.
Use Wax-Softening Drops Regularly
If you're prone to wax buildup, using olive oil or almond oil drops once or twice a week can help keep wax soft and mobile.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking enough water helps keep earwax at the right consistency for natural migration.
Get Regular Check-Ups
If you wear hearing aids, have narrow ear canals, or have a history of wax problems, schedule regular ear checks. We recommend every 6-12 months for at-risk individuals.
Address Hearing Aid Fit
If you wear hearing aids, make sure they fit properly. Poorly fitting devices can push wax deeper. Also, clean your hearing aids daily to prevent wax from clogging the devices themselves.
When to Seek Professional Help
Don't wait until your hearing is severely affected. Seek professional help if:
- You notice any reduction in hearing
- You feel a sense of fullness or blockage in your ear
- You experience tinnitus that's new or worsening
- You have ear pain or discomfort
- You wear hearing aids and notice they're not working as well
Early intervention prevents complications and restores your hearing quickly.
The Link Between Earwax and Quality of Life
Hearing loss—even temporary hearing loss from earwax—affects more than just your ability to hear. It impacts your relationships, your work, your social life, and your mental health. When you can't hear properly, you might:
- Avoid social situations because conversations are too difficult
- Feel isolated or lonely
- Experience frustration or embarrassment
- Miss important information at work or in daily life
The good news? This is entirely preventable and treatable. You don't have to live with muffled hearing or struggle through conversations. Professional earwax removal is quick, safe, and can transform your quality of life.
At Earwax Removal Devon, we've seen the difference it makes. Patients often tell us they didn't realize how much they'd been missing until their hearing was restored. It's not just about hearing better—it's about feeling more connected, more confident, and more engaged with the world around you.
If you're experiencing hearing loss or think earwax might be the problem, don't wait. Book an appointment with Earwax Removal Devon today. We offer same-day appointments, professional assessments, and safe, effective wax removal to restore your hearing and your quality of life.
