You probably don’t give a lot of thought to earwax buildup unless you’re in the process of cleaning it out. Still, it’s crucial to have an understanding of its purpose and how it forms.
So why does earwax accumulate?
Earwax, scientifically called cerumen, is a dense blend of debris, hair, skin particles, sweat, and ceruminous gland secretions. Earwax will show up as a waxy substance that will normally be yellow, orange, brown, or even grey.
While the production amount of earwax differs from person to person, adults typically produce less earwax than kids. Furthermore, adult earwax tends to be darker and harder compared to that of kids.
Earwax gets discharged or washed out after passing the outer ear canal and reaching the opening of the ear.
Why is earwax important?
Here are a few crucial functions that earwax serves:
- Stopping itchiness and dryness by moisturizing and protecting the lining of the ear canal.
- Before things such as dust, dirt, or other outside debris get further up into the ear canal, earwax acts as a roadblock.
- Fending off possible infections that might occur within the ear canal.
Obstructions caused by earwax
Typically, there’s no crucial need to remove earwax from your ears unless it becomes impacted, a prevalent issue associated with earwax. Impacted earwax can be the result of narrow or abnormally shaped ear canals hindering the normal movement of earwax toward the ear’s periphery.
Wax can be accidentally pushed up into the ear canal by utilizing poor cleaning methods like using cotton swabs.
People wrestling with hearing loss who make use of earplugs or hearing aids are also predisposed to experiencing ear canal obstructions.
How is hearing impacted by excessive earwax?
The occurrence of earwax blockages might yield mild discomfort and impact auditory health.
Also, substantial buildup of earwax can induce tinnitus, a sensation of ringing in the ears.
Acoustic trauma might result in long-term hearing loss, perforated eardrums, and long-term hearing loss if earwax obstructions go ignored.
Dealing with impacted earwax
It’s crucial that you contact us as soon as possible if you think your ears are blocked by earwax. Depending on the extent of the blockage, you might be advised to utilize over-the-counter wax softening drops or a bulb syringe for gentle irrigation to alleviate the condition.
Give us a call right away if you need some help with an earwax obstruction.