Monday, June 25, 2012

Hearing Loss or Ear Wax?

Ear wax is a common and easily treatable cause of hearing loss, discomfort, and sometimes ringing in your ears. Wax is produced by all of us. It only causes problems when it builds up. This usually is due to over-production or difficulties in the natural clearance of the wax. Some people produce wax at a faster rate. Others have ear canals that are narrow, or that are at an angle which slows the natural passage of the wax causing it to build up. The skin cells lining our outer ear canals include tiny glands, similar to sweat glands, which produce wax. Its purpose is to act as a protective layer which traps dust and other particles that get into the ear. Wax will then slowly and naturally work its way out taking the trapped debris with it.

When wax gets trapped, the build up acts as a barrier between your ear canal and the outside world. If left untreated, wax may eventually block off the ear canal all together causing hearing loss. Whether it is wax or a permanent hearing loss, a hearing healthcare professional can assess the cause of your hearing troubles.