In my clinic in Leamington Spa, I see earwax build-up in patients every single week. Muffled hearing, a feeling of fullness, earache, tinnitus and itching are the five signs I always ask about during an ear check, and noticing any one of them is reason enough to get your ears looked at.
Earwax does an important job. It protects the ear canal, traps dirt, and normally clears itself without you ever thinking about it. For some people though, it builds up faster than it clears, and that’s when patients start noticing the signs below. Here’s what I look and listen for.
1. Muffled or reduced hearing
This is the sign patients mention to me most often. Voices sound quieter than usual, the television needs turning up a notch, or phone calls feel harder to follow. Because a build-up develops gradually, many people don’t clock the change until someone else points it out, or until they compare one ear to the other and notice a difference. When I examine an ear like this, I’m often looking at a canal that’s partly or fully blocked by compacted wax pressing against the eardrum, dulling the sound before it even has a chance to reach it properly.
2. A feeling of fullness or blockage
Patients describe this one in different ways. Some tell me it feels like they’re wearing an earplug that isn’t actually there. Others say it feels like their ear needs to pop, similar to the sensation you get on a flight, except it never quite clears. I hear this a lot from people who wear hearing aids or earbuds regularly, since both can gradually push wax further into the canal rather than letting it work its way out naturally.
3. Earache or discomfort
Wax build-up puts pressure on the eardrum as it accumulates, and that pressure can show up as a dull ache, a sharper pain, or just general discomfort in and around the ear. I always ask patients whether the discomfort came on gradually or suddenly, since a sudden change can sometimes point to something else going on, like an infection, which needs a slightly different approach.
4. Ringing or buzzing (tinnitus)
This is one that surprises people. When wax blocks out external sound, the internal noises your ears and brain are already producing become more noticeable, and that can show up as a ringing, buzzing, whooshing or humming sound. I’ve had plenty of patients come in worried about tinnitus, only to find that once I’ve removed a build-up of wax, the ringing they’d been hearing settles right down.
5. Itching, or occasionally a cough
An itchy ear canal is a really common symptom, and I understand the urge to reach for a cotton bud when it strikes. Please don’t. It’s one of the quickest ways to push wax further in and risk scratching the delicate skin of the canal. Less commonly, I’ve had patients mention a nagging, unexplained cough alongside their other symptoms. This happens because the ear canal shares a nerve pathway with part of the throat, so pressure from impacted wax can occasionally trigger a cough reflex.
Why some people build up more earwax than others
I get asked this a lot, usually by patients who are frustrated that they seem to need removals more often than a partner or friend. There isn’t one single reason, but a few things come up again and again in my clinic. Narrow or curved ear canals make it harder for wax to work its way out naturally, and the same is true for canals with a lot of fine hair. Some patients have a skin condition affecting the scalp or the area around the ear, which can change how wax behaves. Age plays a part too, since older skin produces drier wax that doesn’t migrate out of the canal as easily as it did years earlier. Regularly wearing hearing aids, earbuds, or even swimming plugs can also contribute, simply because anything sitting in the canal for long periods interferes with wax making its natural way out.
None of this means you’re doing anything wrong. It just means some ears need a bit more help than others, and that’s exactly what regular checks are for.
If any of this sounds familiar, you’re welcome to book a check with me directly rather than waiting for things to get worse.
Looking after your ears between appointments
Once your wax has been removed, there are a few simple habits that help keep things manageable between visits. Using olive oil drops once or twice a week, rather than only when things feel blocked, can stop wax building up to the point where it starts causing symptoms again. If you swim regularly, drying your ears properly afterwards and avoiding anything inserted into the canal makes a real difference too. For patients who wear hearing aids, keeping the domes and tubing clean reduces the chance of wax getting pushed further in over time.
I also encourage patients to keep half an eye on their own hearing rather than waiting for a partner or family member to mention a change. If something starts to feel slightly off, whether that’s a bit of muffling or a return of that fullness sensation, it’s usually easier to sort out early than to leave it until it’s more established.
When I’d recommend booking an appointment
If you’re noticing any of these five signs, particularly more than one at once, I’d suggest booking in for a check. A few other situations where I’d always want to see a patient sooner rather than later include:
- Sudden hearing loss in one or both ears
- Ear pain that’s getting worse rather than settling
- Discharge, odour, or swelling around the ear
- Dizziness or a spinning sensation alongside your other symptoms
- Symptoms that haven’t improved after trying softening drops at home
None of these are usually anything to panic about, but they’re worth having looked at properly rather than waiting to see if things resolve on their own.
What I do during a wax check
When you come in to see me, I’ll start by having a proper look inside your ear canal using an otoscope, which lets me see exactly what’s going on before deciding on the right approach. If the wax is well softened and sitting away from the eardrum, I can often remove it there and then using microsuction, which uses gentle suction rather than water and tends to suit most patients well. Where irrigation is more appropriate, I’ll use a controlled flow of water to clear the canal instead, though this depends on your ear health history, including whether you’ve ever had a perforated eardrum or ear surgery.
If your wax is more heavily compacted, I might ask you to use softening drops for a few days beforehand and get you booked back in for removal once it’s had a chance to loosen. I’ll always explain what I’m seeing and why I’m recommending a particular approach, so you’re never left wondering what happens next or why.
Frequently asked questions
Can earwax build-up cause hearing loss on its own? Yes. A significant build-up can block enough of the ear canal to noticeably reduce how well sound reaches the eardrum. The good news is that hearing usually improves quickly once the wax has been safely removed.
Should I try to remove earwax myself at home? Softening drops such as olive or almond oil are generally safe to try at home. Cotton buds, hairpins, or anything else inserted into the ear canal should be avoided, as they tend to push wax further in and can damage the ear.
Is it normal for tinnitus to be linked to earwax? Yes, this is more common than people expect. Wax build-up can make existing internal ear or brain noises more noticeable by blocking external sound. Many patients notice their tinnitus settles after their wax has been removed.
How often does earwax need to be professionally removed? This varies a lot from person to person. Some patients need a check once a year, others more often if they’re prone to build-up or regularly use hearing aids or earbuds. I usually get a sense of the right interval after your first appointment.
Can a build-up of earwax cause a cough? It’s rare, but yes, it’s possible. The ear canal shares a nerve pathway with the throat, so pressure from impacted wax can occasionally trigger a cough reflex in some people.
Book your ear check with me
If any of these signs sound familiar, I’d love to see you in the clinic. Book an appointment with me at Carolina Leal Hearing Solutions in Leamington Spa.