How to recognise the signs of excessive ear wax build-up

Ear wax (cerumen) is a natural, healthy substance produced by the ear. Its job is to protect your ear canal by trapping dust, repelling water, and preventing bacteria and irritants from reaching deeper into the ear. 

But sometimes ear wax build up can become uncomfortable or affect your hearing.. That’s when specialist ear wax removal is necessary. 

What are the functions of ear wax?

What is ear wax?

More scientifically known as 'cerumen', ear wax is made from a mix of dead skin cells and secretions from glands inside the ear canal. It is naturally antibacterial, antifungal, and water‑repellent - all of which help keep your ears clean and protected. 

Normal ear wax production

As mentioned above, ear wax production is completely healthy and normal for your ears. In fact, it’s part of the ear’s self‑cleaning process, gradually helping move dead skin and debris from within your ear canal. 

Signs and Symptoms of Excessive Ear Wax Build-up

Earache or pain

If you are experiencing discomfort, sharp pains or earache in your ears, you may be suffering from symptoms of ear wax build-up. This is because ear wax build-up causes pressure within the ear canal on the eardrum.

Reduced hearing or feeling of fullness

Have you noticed that your hearing is worse than usual? Or perhaps your ears feel full, like you’re wearing ear plugs, even though you’re not. This could be because a blockage of ear wax is preventing your perception and conduction of external sounds – much like wearing a pair of ear plugs would.

Itching or discomfort

One of the most common ear wax build-up symptoms is a feeling of itchiness within your ears. And it can be tempting to stick something in there to have a good scratch. Avoid putting anything inside the ear - whether that’s a cotton bud, hair pin, or fingernail - as this can push wax deeper or cause injury to ear canal and/or eardrum. 

Tinnitus

Noticed an unusual ringing, buzzing, whooshing or humming noise in your ears? According to Tinnitus UK, this could be because ear wax build-up is blocking out external sounds, and making internal tinnitus noises more noticeable. Thankfully, with ear wax build-up treatment, your perception of these tinnitus sounds should decrease.

Vertigo

The NHS also lists vertigo – where you feel sick and dizzy – among its signs of ear wax build-up. That’s because the ears are crucial for balance, and so if something is affecting our ears, it can throw our balance off and make us feel dizzy or wobbly.

Seeking Professional Help and Safe Ear Wax Removal

Safe methods for ear wax removal

If you have wax build-up in your ears, there are various safe methods for ear wax cleaning you can try.

Prevention – because prevention is always better than a cure! You can prevent ear wax build-up by avoiding wearing earphones and earplugs for prolonged periods, as well as not ‘over-cleaning’ your own ears and never sticking cotton buds or other implements in your ears – as this could actually push ear wax further into your ear canal.

At home remedies – a pharmacist, GP or audiologist may prescribe you medical-grade olive oil ear drops, which can soften the wax and encourage small blockages to come our naturally.

Professional ear wax removal – Many GP practices no longer offer wax removal, but Leightons provides a full consultation and professional treatment for a simple, and affordable flat fee.

When you book an appointment for ear wax removal with us, your hearing care assistant, or audiologist will examine your ears and choose the most appropriate method. There are three main treatments, used for different levels of wax build-up, including irrigation, microsuction and manual removal - using specialist tools. 

Signs of infection or injury: immediate medical attention

If you have any of the above symptoms of ear wax build-up, but are also experiencing:

• Severe pain
• Fever
• Discharge or bleeding from the ear

Then you ought to seek medical attention from your GP immediately, as these may indicate an infection or another condition requiring medical care. 

Ear wax removal near me: book an appointment locally

Ears feeling itchy, achy, or blocked? Noticed an unusual ringing in your ears or symptoms of vertigo? Struggling to hear properly? Then it’s a good time to book in an appointment for ear wax removal.

Early treatment can relieve symptoms quickly and help protect your long‑term ear health. 

You can book an appointment at your local branch online, or over the phone on 0800 40 20 20 today, for a time that suits you.