Can ear wax cause tinnitus?

If you’ve ever had a mysterious ringing or buzzing in your ears, you know just how distracting, and irritating, it can be. This sensation, known as tinnitus, can stem from a number of causes, but one surprisingly common culprit is a buildup of ear wax.

In this blog, we’ll dive into what causes ear wax to accumulate and explore how this might be linked to that persistent ringing in your ears.

What is ear wax?

Ear wax, medically known as cerumen, might not be the most glamorous topic, but it plays a vital role in keeping our ears healthy. This natural substance helps lubricate the ear canal while forming a protective barrier against dust, bacteria, and other unwanted debris, and is your ear’s way of self-cleaning and defending itself from infection.

But what happens when ear wax begins to accumulate? Sometimes, too much ear wax can build up and cause problems. There are several reasons why this might happen:

Your ear canals are naturally narrow or have been damaged.

Excess hair in the ear’s trap wax more easily.

Skin conditions (like eczema or psoriasis) affect the delicate skin in and around the ear.

Ear infections, such as swimmer’s ear, can cause inflammation that leads to wax buildup.

As we age, our ears can become drier, making it harder for wax to move out naturally.

When wax builds up, it can lead to discomfort, temporary hearing loss, and, yes, a ringing or buzzing in the ears. This ringing is known as tinnitus, affecting around 7.6 million people in the UK, with 1.5 million accounting for severe tinnitus. It’s especially common in older adults and those frequently exposed to loud environments.

How does ear wax cause tinnitus?

First things first, tinnitus isn’t a condition in itself. It’s actually a symptom, a signal that something’s not quite right within your auditory system. This complex system includes everything from your inner ear and the auditory nerve (which sends sound signals to your brain) to the parts of your brain responsible for interpreting sound, like the auditory cortex.

So, how does this relate to ear wax? When too much ear wax builds up and becomes compacted, it can put pressure on the ear canal. This pressure may irritate or overstimulate the nerves in the area.

In response, your brain might get a bit confused, it starts interpreting that pressure as sound, even when no external noise exists. The result being a persistent ringing, buzzing, or humming noise. In other words, your brain is trying to make sense of mixed signals, and in doing so, it creates a sound that isn’t really there.

A blockage or impaction

One of the most common culprits is a blockage. When ear wax builds up and hardens, it can clog the ear canal. This can create a feeling of fullness in the ear, dull your hearing, and in some cases, trigger tinnitus.

This is due to the blockage disrupting the way sound vibrations travel through your ear, especially the eardrum and tiny bones (called ossicles) in your middle ear that are crucial for hearing. When this process is thrown off, your brain, as mentioned previously, might fill in the gaps itself.

An infection

Sometimes, excessive ear wax traps bacteria inside the ear canal, creating the perfect environment for an infection to take place. These in fections can cause swelling and fluid buildup in the middle ear, further impairing hearing, and potentially setting off tinnitus. Inflammation in this delicate area often sends confusing signals to the brain, which may respond by producing those phantom noises.

Pressure changes

Even if there’s no full blockage or infection, a large wax buildup can press against the eardrum. This pressure messes with the eardrum’s ability to vibrate properly in response to sound. As a result, your auditory system may interpret this disturbance as a lack of input.

Will tinnitus go away if I remove the ear wax?

In short, yes, it can. If your tinnitus is caused by a buildup of ear wax, then removing the blockage often brings noticeable relief. Once the wax is gone, the pressure on the ear canal and eardrum is reduced, and sound can travel more freely again. In many cases, this clears up the ringing or buzzing altogether.

However, it’s not always that simple. Tinnitus can be a symptom of a deeper issue, and ear wax is just one possible cause. For example, tinnitus is commonly one of the early signs of hearing loss, especially in people who’ve spent years around loud noise, like construction workers, musicians, or factory workers.

Prolonged exposure to loud environments can damage the delicate hair cells in the inner ear that help transmit sound to the brain, leading to ongoing ringing or high-pitched tones.

There are also instances where tinnitus seems to appear out of nowhere, without a clear cause. And when it sticks around, especially if it’s loud and constant, it can lead to fatigue, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, and even depression. That’s why it’s important to take tinnitus seriously and investigate what might be behind it.

Treatment for tinnitus caused by ear wax

If you suspect ear wax might be behind your tinnitus, the first step is to book a consultation with your audiologist. They’ll assess your ears and help determine whether a wax buildup is the root cause of the ringing. If it is, the good news is that there are safe and effective ways to remove it and potentially silence the tinnitus in the process.

One of the most recommended methods is microsuction ear wax removal. This technique uses a gentle suction, like a tiny vacuum, to carefully remove the wax without the need for water or direct contact with the ear canal. It’s quick, clean, and tends to be more comfortable than traditional irrigation, which flushes the ear out with water.

If you’re finding it difficult to manage tinnitus or simply want peace of mind, our experienced and friendly audiologists are here to help. Get in touch with us today to book a consultation.