Can Earwax Cause Hearing Loss?
Have you ever had your hearing feel muffled and reduced because of earwax blockage? It's natural to worry that earwax might cause hearing loss.
To put it simply, yes, earwax can lead to hearing loss. In fact, earwax buildup is the most common cause of conductive hearing loss. When too much wax accumulates, it can get stuck and block sound from entering the inner ear properly.
While complete earwax blockage is rare, even partial blockages can make hearing feel muffled. If you think earwax is affecting your hearing, it's a good idea to make an appointment with us for a quick check up. We can inspect your ear and run a hearing test to ensure your ears are hearing just fine. It's a good idea to have at least one hearing test on file for comparison. We call this a baseline hearing test and can come in handy for insurance purposes in case of workers compensation claims or insurance claims as well as medical comparisons later in life.
While rare, impacted ear wax can eventually lead to permanent hearing loss.
Don't Jump to Conclusions!
Get your hearing checked by a professional. You might be just one visit away from clear hearing again.Please call (204) 788-1083 or contact us online.
Earwax and Hearing Loss
When we think of earwax, we usually want to clean it out. But earwax, or cerumen, is actually important for ear health. It traps dust, bacteria, and other debris that can irritate the ear or cause infections.
Normally, earwax moves to the outer ear naturally and we wipe it away. Chewing, talking, and swallowing help move the wax out of the middle ear.
Most of the time, our ears clean themselves, so earwax isn't a problem. In fact, removing all the earwax can make ears dry, itchy, and achy.
Some people produce more earwax than others. When this happens, the wax can build up and block the ear. This can cause hearing loss, which is usually temporary. To restore hearing, you just need to remove the blockage.
Symptoms of Earwax Blockage
Besides hearing loss difficulties, there are other signs of an earwax blockage:
- Itchy or irritated ear
- Earache
- Constant coughing
- Full or plugged-up feeling in the ear
- Tinnitus - also called "ringing in the ear"
If you experience any of these symptoms, it might be time to get your ears checked for a possible earwax blockage.
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There is no benefit in waiting to get your ears checked and have a hearing test. In fact we recommend everyone have a baseline hearing test performed so that in future we can compare what their hearing level should be to what it is currently. This will help show any changes that may reveal a health condition and is also important for insurance claims with MPI, work or personal insurance. Please call (204) 788-1083 or contact us online.
