Ear health is often taken for granted — until something doesn’t feel right. While earwax is essential in protecting the canal of the ear, there are instances where it can accumulate and become bothersome. Being aware of the signs that your ears need a cleaning can prevent more complications and ensure proper ear health.
Let’s examine the typical symptoms that could mean it’s ear check time, and what you can do safely about it.
1. Muffled or Reduced Hearing
A slow loss of hearing, particularly in one ear, is usually the most obvious symptom. This doesn’t always indicate something bad — in most instances, it’s mere wax buildup clogging up the ear canal. If your hearing clears after a cleanout or use of eardrops, it’s a definitive sign that wax was the cause.
2. Feel of Fullness or Pressure in the Ear
That clogged, plugged-up feeling can be distracting and irritating. It might seem like something is stuck in your ear, particularly after a swim or a shower. Though water can sometimes bring on this sensation, overproduction of wax is most commonly responsible for the pressure.
3. Itchiness or Irritation
Mild itching is natural, but recurrent itchiness could indicate drying out or excessive buildup of wax. Cotton bud scratching may be fleeting relief, but it can actually make matters worse by driving wax further into the canal.
4. Tinnitus (Ringing or Buzzing Sounds)
A constant or intermittent ringing in the ears can sometimes be linked to wax pressing against the eardrum. While tinnitus has many causes, a blocked ear is an easy fix — and one worth ruling out before considering more complex conditions.
5. Earache or Discomfort
Pain is not necessarily severe, but a dull earache could be caused by cerumin becoming impacted against sensitive tissues. Bacteria becoming trapped behind the wax could cause infection in some instances. If you continue to have pain, professional assessment is advised.
What You Can Do
Mild manifestations may be treated with softening drops or heat compresses, but recurrent cases need professional attention. Self-care measures such as cotton swabs may aggravate the situation. A better option is getting advice from a doctor using telehealth sites such as NowServing PH.
For those who want safe ear wax removal in the Philippines, virtual consultations are a quick and secure starting point. Your doctor can advise you if home maintenance is enough or if you should have an in-person procedure for proper ear cleaning.
Early intervention can avoid pain and keep one of your greatest assets — your hearing — safe.
