Do Your Ears Ever Feel Plugged?
Have you ever noticed that your ears feel plugged or full? Maybe your hearing seems to come and go—clear one moment and muffled the next. Or perhaps you’ve found yourself reaching for a cotton swab more often than you should. If this sounds familiar, ear wax buildup may be the cause.
What Is Ear Wax Blockage?
Ear wax blockage can be identified when you visit your hearing care professional or doctor. During the appointment, they examine the inside of your ear using a tool called an otoscope, which provides a magnified view of the ear canal and eardrum—areas that are difficult to see with the naked eye.
Ideally, there should be a clear pathway from the ear opening to the eardrum. If wax is blocking that path, it can interfere with how well sound reaches your inner ear. Depending on the amount and location of the wax, your hearing care professional may remove it themselves or refer you to an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist) for removal and further testing if needed.
How Is Ear Wax Removed?
If your hearing care professional or doctor is comfortable removing the wax, they may use a small curved tool called a curette to gently loosen and remove it from the ear canal.
There are also two common professional methods for wax removal:
Ear Irrigation
This is a quick procedure that uses clean, room‑temperature water. A syringe‑like tool gently flushes water into the ear canal to rinse out the wax. Once cleared, the ear is dried, and the professional will recheck the ear with the otoscope to ensure the blockage has been fully removed.
Ear Suction (Microsuction)
In some cases—especially for frequent wax buildup—an ENT may use a small suction device to safely remove the wax. This procedure uses a handheld vacuum along with a tiny camera and light, called an endoscope, to allow the specialist to see inside the ear throughout the process. Depending on how often wax builds up for you, your ENT may recommend how frequently you should return for this service.
When to Seek Help
If your ears feel plugged or your hearing seems off, resist the urge to use cotton swabs, as they can push wax deeper and make the problem worse. Instead, visit your hearing care professional or doctor. They can safely check your ears, confirm whether wax is the issue, and guide you on the best next steps—helping you get back to hearing the sounds you’ve been missing.
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/earwax-blockage/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353007