An earwax blockage is one of many reasons you could have muffled hearing, and luckily, it’s also one of the easiest to fix.
How Do Earwax Blockages Muffle My Hearing?
When you place your fingers or earplugs in your ears, you create a barrier that blocks sound waves, resulting in a muffled effect. Earwax blockages produce the same effect. If you wear hearing aids, earwax blockages may also result in a whistling sound called feedback. Feedback happens when the amplified sound from hearing aids hits a wall of wax and bounces back into your devices.
How Can I Manage Earwax-Related Muffled Hearing
While muffled sound from earplugs comes in handy during booming shows at the Amalie Arena, it’s not as helpful during everyday life. The first step in addressing hearing issues is to check whether earwax is the cause. Your hearing specialist can conduct an ear exam to look for blockages. If they determine excess earwax is muffling your hearing, they will remove the wax using special instruments and techniques like forceps, a cerumen spoon, irrigation or suction. Earwax removal should be quick and painless.
Can I Remove Earwax at Home?
You should never attempt to remove earwax at home without first seeing a hearing professional. If you frequently get earwax blockages, they may recommend a couple of at-home removal methods, including earwax softening drops and irrigation with a bulb syringe.
You should never use cotton swabs or other small objects to try and remove wax at home, as these methods can harm your ears. You should also avoid other home remedy options like ear candling, which are ineffective and potentially dangerous.
How Do Cotton Swabs Harm My Ear Health?
Cotton swabs can damage or tear your eardrum, potentially leading to greater hearing issues and opening your ear up to infection. Not only are cotton swabs harmful to your ear health, but they’re also ineffective at removing earwax. Seeing wax on your cotton swab might seem like proof that it cleaned your ears, but it likely only pushed the wax deeper into your ear canal. This can lead to a more stubborn wax blockage and encourage greater wax production.
If you have muffled hearing, don’t try to address it alone. Instead, contact Kampsen Hearing today to schedule a safety-first ear exam and treatment consultation with one of our specialists.