Earwax or cerumen is a greasy, waxy secretion of the skin that lines the inside of the ear canal, along with sebum that is excreted by the sweat glands in the ear. This wax is made a new layer inside every day (deep in the pipe) and will be removed from the ear every day. It has a kind of movement, so we will notice that it comes out of the ear, especially in children.
What is the role of ear wax?
Ear Wax has a beneficial role in removing dust, impurities and even bacteria from the ear that come to the skin through air or water. This will prevent over-infection of the outer ear with bacteria or fungi.
Excessive accumulation of wax in the ear
Some people secrete more wax. So it does not have time to be removed in time, it will gather in the ear in the form of layers and will occupy the external auditory canal forming a plug.
It can happen to anyone, but it is more common in these categories:
○Elderly
○ People who use headphones or hearing aids
What are the symptoms of a wax plug?
- The feeling of auricular fullness and autophony: we hear our voice louder than the surrounding noises
- The feeling of a clogged ear
- This happens more often after bathing, during which time the plug can swell from the water and occupy even more of the ear canal.
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ear): The big plug can put pressure on the eardrum, which will put pressure on the inner ear and this will create a kind of noise in the ear, like a ringing.
- Earache: When wax presses on the walls of the duct or the eardrum.
How to Remove & Clean
You should go to the examination if you have symptoms that you think are caused by the wax plug.
Therefore, the wax plug will only be removed in the audiologist’s office.