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Hearing Loss

Can ear wax cause hearing loss?

What is ear wax, and how can it affect your hearing?
Last update on Jan, 28, 2025

Ear wax is a natural part of life and vital to maintaining ear health. But what is it, why does our body produce it, and does ear wax cause hearing loss?

In this blog, we’ll explore the connection between earwax and hearing loss and answer common questions about earwax buildup, including:

  • Why does earwax build up?
  • Can ear wax cause pain?
  • Can ear wax cause hearing loss?
  • Can earwax buildup cause permanent hearing loss?

What is Ear Wax?

Ear wax, or cerumen (pronounced seh-ROO-men), is a naturally occurring substance secreted by glands in the ear canal. Made up of mainly keratin and fatty acids, cerumen picks up tiny debris while slowly migrating to the outer ear, usually nudged by jaw motions, such as chewing or talking. Along the way, it protects and lubricates the ear canal to avoid irritation.

However, when earwax builds up excessively or becomes impacted, it can lead to hearing and health issues. 

What does ear wax do?

Ear wax has some important jobs. Here are just a few of them: 

This is your ear’s local defense system. Researchers have identified several important antimicrobial peptides in ear wax that protect against bacteria and fungi. 

Ear wax keeps your ears clean and lubricated. Too little ear wax can leave your ears dry, itchy, and flaky, making you more prone to scratching them—which puts them at greater risk for irritation and infection.

Ear wax helps trap dirt, dust, and other grime before reaching, and potentially damaging your eardrum and inner ear. 

The unique smell of ear wax shoos away small, curious insects, who can sometimes fly or crawl into the ear. If bugs get in, they are captured in ear wax’s sticky trap, then tumble out later with the rest of the gunk.

Ear Wax FAQs

Diet, stress, and hygiene influence excessive ear wax production. Studies have shown that consuming omega-3 fatty acids (e.g., fish, flaxseed, and walnuts) can reduce the chance of ear wax buildup.

If you are prone to picking out wax with a cotton swab (or your finger), stop. Regularly removing ear wax triggers the body to produce more!

Ear wax can cause pain, especially when it becomes impact  ed. Impacted earwax can press against the sensitive structures in the ear canal, leading to discomfort, a feeling of fullness, and even earaches. In some cases, it can also cause inflammation or irritation, exacerbating the pain.

Learn more about the right way to go about earwax removal.

Yes, earwax blockage is one of the leading causes of conductive hearing loss. When earwax blocks the ear canal, it prevents sound waves from reaching the eardrum effectively, resulting in muffled or significantly reduced hearing. This type of hearing loss is usually temporary—removing impacted ear wax in a safe and timely manner can reverse the symptoms. 

Too much ear wax in the ear canal can harden and dry up over time, increasing the risk of it becoming impacted. Impacted earwax is one of the most frequent causes of temporary hearing loss as it blocks the passage of sound waves. This condition can lead to infections, earaches, discomfort, dizziness, and tinnitus.

Earwax buildup can also cause a crackling noise in your ear. Explore the connection and how to find relief.

While exceedingly rare, untreated or chronic earwax buildup can lead to permanent hearing loss due to complications like infections or damage to ear structures. Researchers have found that mice exposed to conductive hearing loss over a year experienced lasting damage to the inner ear. It’s important to get impacted ear wax professionally removed before it can cause irreversible damage to your hearing health.

Earwax alone is unlikely to cause total deafness. However, severe and untreated earwax impaction can lead to significant hearing impairment. This condition is usually reversible with proper treatment, such as professional wax removal.

Hearing aids that rest in the ear can block the natural journey ear wax must take to exit the ear. This ear blockage can stimulate the ear canal glands to produce more wax; some hearing aid wearers report more earwax after getting them.

If you wear hearing aids, keep on top of ear wax, as it can block your ears, the receiver and other parts of your hearing aid device. The acidic nature of ear wax can damage the delicate electrical components. Ear wax buildup is one of the most common reasons for hearing aid repairs.

Learn how to clean ear wax from your hearing aids. Your hearing care provider can also help clean them or send them out for repairs. 

Yes, earwax buildup can cause a cracking or popping noise in your ear. When excess wax blocks the ear canal, it can interfere with normal sound transmission and create unusual internal noises. If you're experiencing persistent cracking sounds, it's best to have your ears checked by a hearing care professional. Safe removal can restore clarity and comfort.

Addressing Earwax-Related Hearing Issues

Earwax is typically self-cleaning

Earwax is typically self-cleaning, so it doesn’t usually require removal. However, if you’re experiencing symptoms of ear wax buildup (e.g., earache, itching, tinnitus or a sensation of fullness in or plugging of the ear), it may be time to get a professional evaluation. 

Don’t try to remove ear wax at home

Don’t try to remove ear wax at home, and never insert anything into the ear canal, including Q-tips® or cotton swabs. This action can push the wax further into the canal, causing blockage and/or damaging the eardrum. We also don’t recommend using ear candles.

If you think something is stuck in your ears, see a professional who can clean them. 

Pay Attention to Your Hearing Loss

If you have sudden hearing loss, schedule an appointment with a hearing care professional. Whether temporary, due to impacted earwax or something else, a professional assessment can help get you back to hearing all the sounds of life.

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[1] https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0142341
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