Do you wake up with a muffled ear, maybe after a shower or a swim, and hear less on one side? Very often the cause is an earwax plug. It’s not serious, but it needs to be handled the right way.
In my work I see it almost every week: someone comes in worried because they hear less, sometimes convinced their hearing aid is broken – and the reason is simply an earwax plug. Once it’s removed, the world sounds the way it used to.
Earwax isn’t dirt
Earwax is a natural substance that protects the ear canal: it keeps it moist, traps dust and bacteria and, with the movements of the jaw, works its way out by itself. In most people the ear cleans itself.
Sometimes, though, earwax builds up and hardens until it blocks the canal. This happens more often to people who:
- use cotton swabs;
- wear hearing aids, earbuds or earplugs;
- have a narrow ear canal or produce a lot of earwax;
- are older, because earwax becomes drier.
Typical symptoms
- blocked or muffled ear;
- hearing loss on one side, often sudden after contact with water;
- a feeling of pressure, sometimes a slight ringing;
- with hearing aids: whistling (feedback) or weaker sound.
What NOT to do
- Cotton swabs inside the ear canal. They push the wax deeper and pack it down: the most common cause of plugs. Use them only on the outer ear.
- Ear candles. They don’t work and can cause burns.
- Hairpins, keys or other objects. Risk of scratches, infections and eardrum injuries.
- DIY rinsing with a strong jet, especially if you’ve had eardrum problems.
What you can do
- Softening drops: pharmacies sell drops or sprays that soften earwax. Use them for a few days, following the instructions – only if you have no pain and have never had a perforated eardrum.
- Removal by a doctor: a doctor, usually an ENT specialist, can remove the plug in a few minutes with a rinse or a small suction device.
💡 Who pays? In Switzerland earwax plugs are usually removed by an ENT specialist, and the service is often not covered. Before booking, talk to your family doctor: depending on your insurance model, they are the first step.
⚠️ See a doctor straight away if
- you have pain, fever or discharge from the ear;
- you’ve had an injury or an ear infection;
- the hearing loss is sudden and there was no contact with water;
- you also have strong dizziness.
Sudden hearing loss with no obvious cause is an emergency: don’t wait for it to go away.
If you wear hearing aids
Hearing aid wearers tend to have more earwax, because the device gets in the way of its natural exit. An occasional ear check during visits to your hearing care professional helps prevent plugs. And remember to clean your hearing aids every evening and change the wax filters regularly.
The plug is gone but you still hear less?
Then it’s time for a check. Take the free hearing check or write to me.
This article is for information only and does not replace a medical visit or professional advice.
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