by Tom Brend

Created on: September 14, 2009

Earwax blockage results from a buildup of earwax (medical term: cerumen) in the human ear. This can be due to improper use of cotton swabs or simply due to overproduction closely related to individual physiology. A certain level of earwax is needed by the ear for lubrication and protection against infections. Earwax is produced in the ear canal, and naturally moved outwards through chewing movements. Earwax is also particularly viscious and has a bitter taste.

You can prevent earwax blockage by using cotton swabs properly. It might seem extremly hygienic to you to use Q-tips regularly, but it is established medical opinion that through Q-tip ear cleaning, the earwax will only be pushed further back into the ear, not only increasing the chances of earwax blockage; there have been cases where the eardrum was perforated by Q-tips.

If, for any reason, too much earwax builds up in the ear, hearing might very suddenly be impaired. The same can be said for users of hearing aids. You might also experience as if something is obstructing your ear, tinnitus noises up to light pain in the area. If untreated, earwax blocakge may develop to an ear infection or permanent damage to your hearing.

In this case, various treatments for the suffering are available. Many of these have been practitioned since the antique ages. Here are the popular treatments sorted by increasing complexity from top to bottom:

1) Chewing

Chewing will help move the cerumen outwards, eventually clearing the ear canal. This does not mean you'll have to eat a lot. Chewing gum and talkativeness will help a lot.

2) Cerumenolytic agents

Oily solutions, glycerine and hydrogen peroxide are able to solute earwax effectively, making it easy for the patient to remove the excess earwax manually. One could use medical products especially designed for this task, or simply use household products like baby or olive oil. Never use glycerine or hydrogen peroxide alone, as it potentially harmful if not diluted properly.

3) Syringing

After softening up the earwax, it is ready to be cleared out manually. The most effective way would be syringing the excess earwax out of the ear with water with a temperature around body temperature in a way that the stream of water first flows along the roof of the ear canal and then exits the ear at the bottom of the canal.

4) Ear vacuuming

Vacuuming the excess earwax out of the ear is probably the most radical and advanced task you could choose, but necessarily the most effective way of clearing out the blockage. This procedure should be done by a medical professional, as home products for this task are often not effective enough for clearing a blockage.

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