Earwax is a natural part of how the ear works. Whether it's gooey, crusty, or flaky, we all have it. But why does our body produce this waxy substance, and can it hinder your ability to hear when it's present in excess amounts?

Why is Earwax Produced?

Earwax is a naturally occurring substance in the ear canal. It's composed of secretions from sweat, sebaceous glands, and dead ear cells. Over time, earwax will pick up some other microscopic additives, including hair, dust, dirt, and other tiny debris. Earwax will naturally work its way from the inner ear to the outer ear with the help of your jaw, thanks to chewing and talking.

What Does Earwax Do?

Earwax actually has many jobs. Its oily composition makes earwax perfect for lubricating the ear canal to keep the skin from getting dry, itchy, and flaky. Earwax is also a primary protective barrier for your eardrum and inner ear. It stops dust, dirt, and other debris from making their way further into the ear, where it can cause major damage to your hearing.

How and When to Remove Excess Earwax?

Contrary to what you may have been taught, earwax isn't a substance that needs to be removed from your ears. Rather, this substance will naturally work its way out. Unfortunately, taking cotton swabs and removing earwax can actually trigger your body to overproduce it.

Most of the time, your ears will produce just enough earwax. However, sometimes it may overproduce earwax. Factors like your diet, hygiene, and stress can all play a role in how much earwax your body produces. When you feel excessive earwax in your ears, it's best to have it removed by a professional. If you use a cotton swab, you can actually be pushing earwax too far into the ear. This can lead to impacted earwax, which can obstruct your ability to hear properly.

How Does Earwax Affect Your Hearing?

When you have too much earwax in your ear, it can block soundwaves from reaching your inner ear. This results in conductive hearing loss, also referred to as temporary hearing loss. When this happens, it's imperative that a professional remove the impacted earwax to restore your hearing fully. Letting the earwax go any further can result in more impacted wax that can be even more difficult to remove.

Call Us Today

If you believe that you have an excessive amount of earwax in one or more of your ears, causing you to experience conductive hearing loss, then it's time to stop by or give us a call. Let our hearing care professionals take care of cleaning out that excess wax and performing a quality hearing exam.