Can ear wax cause hearing loss?

This is your ear’s local defense system. Researchers have identified several important antimicrobial peptides in ear wax that protect against bacteria and fungi. 

Ear wax keeps your ears clean and lubricated. Too little ear wax can leave your ears dry, itchy, and flaky, making you more prone to scratching them—which puts them at greater risk for irritation and infection.

Ear wax helps trap dirt, dust, and other grime before reaching, and potentially damaging your eardrum and inner ear. 

The unique smell of ear wax shoos away small, curious insects, who can sometimes fly or crawl into the ear. If bugs get in, they are captured in ear wax’s sticky trap, then tumble out later with the rest of the gunk.

Diet, stress, and hygiene influence excessive ear wax production. Studies have shown that consuming omega-3 fatty acids (e.g., fish, flaxseed, and walnuts) can reduce the chance of ear wax buildup.

If you are prone to picking out wax with a cotton swab (or your finger), stop. Regularly removing ear wax triggers the body to produce more!

Ear wax can cause pain, especially when it becomes impact  ed. Impacted earwax can press against the sensitive structures in the ear canal, leading to discomfort, a feeling of fullness, and even earaches. In some cases, it can also cause inflammation or irritation, exacerbating the pain.

Learn more about the right way to go about earwax removal.

Yes, earwax blockage is one of the leading causes of conductive hearing loss. When earwax blocks the ear canal, it prevents sound waves from reaching the eardrum effectively, resulting in muffled or significantly reduced hearing. This type of hearing loss is usually temporary—removing impacted ear wax in a safe and timely manner can reverse the symptoms. 

Too much ear wax in the ear canal can harden and dry up over time, increasing the risk of it becoming impacted. Impacted earwax is one of the most frequent causes of temporary hearing loss as it blocks the passage of sound waves. This condition can lead to infections, earaches, discomfort, dizziness, and tinnitus.

Earwax buildup can also cause a crackling noise in your ear. Explore the connection and how to find relief.

While exceedingly rare, untreated or chronic earwax buildup can lead to permanent hearing loss due to complications like infections or damage to ear structures. Researchers have found that mice exposed to conductive hearing loss over a year experienced lasting damage to the inner ear. It’s important to get impacted ear wax professionally removed before it can cause irreversible damage to your hearing health.

Earwax alone is unlikely to cause total deafness. However, severe and untreated earwax impaction can lead to significant hearing impairment. This condition is usually reversible with proper treatment, such as professional wax removal.

Hearing aids that rest in the ear can block the natural journey ear wax must take to exit the ear. This ear blockage can stimulate the ear canal glands to produce more wax; some hearing aid wearers report more earwax after getting them.

If you wear hearing aids, keep on top of ear wax, as it can block your ears, the receiver and other parts of your hearing aid device. The acidic nature of ear wax can damage the delicate electrical components. Ear wax buildup is one of the most common reasons for hearing aid repairs.

Learn how to clean ear wax from your hearing aids. Your hearing care provider can also help clean them or send them out for repairs.