Can ear wax cause tinnitus?

We separate fact from fiction to help you understand the relationship between ear wax an

Ear wax and tinnitus are two of the most searched terms relating to hearing health. You may have multiple questions on each topic, though your biggest query is this: can ear wax cause tinnitus?

There’s a lot of misinformation on this particular question; this blog post will separate the facts from the fiction and tell you everything you need to know about ear wax and tinnitus. 

Understanding Ear Wax and Tinnitus

Everyone produces ear wax – and for a good reason. It lines the ear canal to provide protection by trapping micro-organisms and filtering them out of your ears. If you didn’t produce enough ear wax, your ears would fall victim to a higher number of auditory health concerns.

Tinnitus is a common hearing health condition, though it’s also a term used to describe the appearance of noise in your head that doesn’t manifest in the outside world. The NHS states that tinnitus can sound like a ringing, buzzing, whooshing or humming sound. You experience tinnitus if you hear these sorts of noises, but they don’t have an outside source.

Can Ear Wax Cause Tinnitus?

How do ear wax and tinnitus link – or are they linked at all? Tinnitus has a massive list of possible causes, which can range from prolonged exposure to loud noises all the way to medical conditions like diabetes.

Can ear wax cause tinnitus? Yes – though it’s likely to cause temporary tinnitus rather than the permanent kind. It will also only cause tinnitus when you produce too much ear wax to the point that it causes blockages in your ears. When this happens, the blockage creates pressure in your ears that triggers nerve cells to send signals to your brain, making it think that you’re hearing a noise.

Thus, you experience a ringing or whooshing sound without being able to locate its source.

Signs of Ear Wax Buildup

You’re supposed to produce ear wax, so how do you know when you’re making too much and it’s become impacted in your ear canal?

Ironically, tinnitus is a sign of ear wax buildup. Experiencing a buzzing or ringing in your ears could be one of the earliest indications of impacted wax in your ears. Particularly if it manifests alongside some of these symptoms:

• Hearing loss – Struggling to hear things clearly could be a sign of ear wax build-up. It could also be a sign of general hearing loss, meaning it’s worth visiting your audiologist for an assessment anyway.

• Dizziness – Impacted ear wax may cause dizziness because of the pressure it creates in your ears. If you start feeling dizzy, then it might be a sign that you need ear wax removal.

• Earache – It’s common to experience pain in your ear when you have a build-up of ear wax. It will feel as though your ears are severely blocked and there’s too much pressure inside them

• Itchiness – Some individuals complain of itchiness in or around their ears when suffering from excess ear wax. If this is present with the other symptoms, then it’s a fair indication of this problem.

Can Wax Removal Alleviate Tinnitus?

Yes, ear wax removal can alleviate tinnitus that is caused by a build-up of impacted ear wax. You will typically see an immediate improvement after professional ear wax removal treatments.

Looking back at the reason ear wax causes tinnitus, we said it was down to the increased pressure in the ears triggering a nerve response. When the ear wax is removed, this pressure decreases. As a consequence, the nerves in your ear canal are no longer triggered, so they stop sending false signals to the brain, meaning the tinnitus disappears.

Bear in mind that wax removal may not improve tinnitus if your tinnitus is caused by something else. For instance, tinnitus caused by exposure to loud noises is more of a permanent issue that won’t be resolved by ear wax removal.

Risks of Impacted Ear Wax

Tinnitus isn’t the only issue that stems from impacted ear wax. It’s something you should treat because it can lead to a host of other auditory health concerns, including:

• Ear Infections – Trapped ear wax will reverse the protective benefits of healthy ear wax. Instead of helping to funnel bad things out of your ear canal, it traps bacteria and other things in your ears. Impacted ear wax also builds up moisture inside the ear canal, which can cause frequent (and painful) infections.

• Damage to the Eardrum – When too much wax is in your ear canal, it gradually gets pushed further down. Not removing the wax means it will naturally go far enough to connect with your eardrum, especially if you wear earbuds. In turn, this may lead to a perforated eardrum – which is a hole in the eardrum itself. This is extremely painful and can lead to a high temperature, pus leaking from your ear and excessive dizziness. It will heal over time, but you’d rather not have to deal with it!

As mentioned in the symptoms of ear wax build-up, impacted wax will cause temporary hearing loss. While this will be relieved if you remove the wax, it can create problems during your daily life. You’ll have difficulty hearing people or things, which means you lose a sense of independence and can enter many awkward situations at work or socially.

Is Tinnitus Linked to One Ear Only?

Not necessarily. Tinnitus can fit into two categories:

• Unilateral Tinnitus
• Bilateral Tinnitus

As we’re discussing the question, can ear wax cause tinnitus, it’s more likely you will experience unilateral tinnitus. This is because most individuals only suffer from excess ear wax in one ear. Therefore, tinnitus will only manifest in that ear.

With that being said, if both ears have a build-up of wax, then you will experience tinnitus in both of your ears. It all depends on what’s causing your tinnitus.

Can Excess Ear Wax Worsen Tinnitus?

Do you already experience tinnitus? Regardless of whether it’s in one or two ears, excess ear wax can make your tinnitus worse.

Even if your tinnitus isn’t caused by ear wax, the presence of impacted wax will do three main things to make it sound louder and be harder to deal with:

• Increased Pressure – As noted before, ear wax build-up increases the pressure in your ear canal, which can push against the eardrum. When this happens, it amplifies your perception of internal noises. In simple terms, this turns the volume up on your tinnitus.

• Ear Blockage – Impacted ear wax will block your ears and make it harder for you to hear. Consequently, you hear outside noises at a lower level, and this makes internal noises seem louder. Tinnitus becomes easier to hear and far more noticeable because you don’t hear everything else as clearly.

• Hearing Aid Disruptions – People with permanent tinnitus will use hearing aids to try and alleviate the symptoms. Unfortunately, excessive ear wax is prone to interfering with these devices and preventing them from functioning correctly. The user doesn’t see the benefits of hearing aids for tinnitus, and their symptoms worsen.

Safe Methods for Ear Wax Removal

How do you remove ear wax safely? Before we reveal some safe methods, let’s go over the wrong ways to remove ear wax:

• Don’t use cotton buds or swabs and insert them in your ears
• Don’t try to syringe your ears at home
• Don’t try to remove ear wax using a candle – this will never work and is incredibly dangerous

Professionals advise none of these methods. Instead, the safest ways to remove ear wax include:

• Olive Oil Drops – You can buy olive oil drops for ear wax removal from any pharmacy or supermarket. They work by softening the wax in your ears, causing it to drain out naturally. A couple of drops each night for a few days is normally all it takes to see results.

• Microsuction – This involves a specialist tool that sucks the wax from your ears. It doesn’t insert too far into your ear canal, which means it won’t push the wax deeper. Don’t try this at home; you’ll need to find a professional to do this for you.

When to Seek Professional Help

Temporary tinnitus from impacted ear wax isn’t always a serious problem. Spot the symptoms early, and you can solve the issue with some olive oil ear drops. Try these at home for a few days and check your symptoms. If your hearing starts getting clearer and the buzzing sound goes away, then you know the drops worked.

Seek professional help if you experience any of the following:

• Persistent dizziness
• Chronic earaches/infections
• Pus flowing from your ears
• Extreme main in your ears
• Wax that refuses to soften after using ear drops

In this scenario, you’ve got a severe build-up of ear wax. The only way to get rid of it is through professional ear wax removal services. Book an appointment with an audiologist immediately to assess the situation and receive the correct treatment.