Your hearing might seem worse after earwax removal due to temporary ear canal irritation, inflammation, leftover wax, or Eustachian tube issues caused by the procedure, leading to a feeling of blockage or muffled sound, but it's usually temporary and resolves as the ear settles. However, if symptoms persist, it could signal underlying problems like infection or eardrum damage, so seeing a doctor for a follow-up is important.
Muffled Hearing After Earwax Removal
Residual Blockage: Occasionally, earwax removal may not fully clear all the wax from the ear canal, leading to residual blockage. This can leave you feeling that your ear still feels blocked/clogged after wax removal.
After undergoing microsuction, many people expect immediate relief. However, some may still experience a blocked sensation in the ear. This can be due to residual wax, slight swelling, pressure changes, or even temporary hearing adjustments.
One Week After Microsuction
This is where hearing after earwax removal really settles in and feels natural. It's also a good time to consider your long-term ear care. Some people are prone to wax build-up, while others may go years without needing another treatment.
Don't try to dig it out
You may push the wax farther into your ear and cause serious damage to the lining of your ear canal or eardrum.
Symptoms of a ruptured eardrum may include:
Cotton swabs can be bad for your ears
Using cotton swabs can: Disrupt the tiny hairs that protect the ear canal. Push wax deeper into the ear canal. Traumatize the fragile ear canal skin and lead to infection or bleeding.
Yes, deep earwax may eventually come out, but too much will mean you will likely need ear drops from a pharmacy to remove the wax at home. And if that doesn't work, then you will need to see a professional for microsuction. Don't suffer any longer than you have to — both solutions are quick and painless.
Dry earwax is not as effective as wet earwax in trapping foreign particles and is more likely to cause blockages in the ear canal.
Earwax removal can sometimes temporarily make tinnitus worse, but this usually depends on the method of removal and individual sensitivity.
What if my ears are still blocked after using the bulb syringe? The procedure can be repeated but if it fails you may need to try ear syringing. If this fails you may be referred for microsuction.
Avoid flying for 48 hours after microsuction if the procedure was done to clear blockages or pressure from your Eustachian tubes. The changes in air pressure could cause pain. Refrain from vigorous physical activity, exercise, swimming or strenuous activity for 1-2 days following the procedure.
Common Causes of Muffled Hearing
Excessive earwax buildup (cerumen impaction) blocking the ear canal. Ear infections such as otitis media (middle ear infection) or otitis externa (outer ear infection). Fluid in the ear (otitis media with effusion), often a result of a common cold or sinus infection.
Trauma: Sometimes the delicate skin of the ear canal can be grazed or irritated, causing discomfort and occasionally bleeding. Keeping still when the probe is in your ear is important, but sometimes skin or hair can be pulled away from the canal wall by the suction probe, causing damage.
Thankfully, the buildup of earwax is a common and easily treatable problem. Leaving earwax unaddressed can lead to complications that can result in permanent hearing damage. This in turn can cause other health complications such as dementia, cardiovascular disease, as well as injuries due to falling.
Professional ear cleaning is needed if your ears have an overproduction of ear wax which has led to earwax impaction, itchiness, pain, or discomfort.
Off-white or yellow earwax indicates fresh earwax. This color is likely found deeper in the ear canal. Orange or dark orange earwax that is sticky or flakey is older earwax. The darker it is, the more debris it has picked up. Brown earwax is very old, and most likely is close to exiting the ear.
The results have shown that human earwax can be a potential source of DNA evidence for human identification up to 30 days after the earwax collection. It is recommended to quickly analyze earwax samples or store them at room temperature or at −10 °C after their recovery from the crime scene.
It's wet, brown and gummy in nearly all people of European and African origin; but more than 80% of East Asians have a dry variety that lacks a waxy substance called cerumen. A team of Japanese researchers has now tackled this sticky subject and identified the gene that determines earwax type.
Instead, soak a cotton ball and drip a few drops of plain water, a simple saline solution, or hydrogen peroxide into the ear with your head tilted so the opening of the ear is pointing up. Keep it in that position for a minute to allow gravity to pull the fluid down through the wax.
A few days is usually enough time for your body to get rid of any blockage. But the general rule of thumb is that if things persist for more than a week or so, it may be a wise idea to come in for a consultation. That sensation of feeling like your ears are blocked can also be an indication of hearing loss.
Symptoms of earwax blockage may include:
GP surgery treatment to remove earwax
Some can: flush the wax out with water (electronic ear irrigation) suck the wax out (microsuction) scrape the wax out using a very small device.
Ear wax is normal, and most people have it, but it can cause discomfort when it builds up in your ear. Symptoms of ear wax build-up include earache, ringing noises and hearing problems. Ear wax is made by ear canal glands to protect you from water or infection.
Other safe techniques include yawning or chewing gum, applying a warm compress against the ear and making gentle jaw movements. These methods can help relieve pressure and promote the natural clearing of the ears.