Ear Blockage / Wax Blocka
Diagnosis of Wax Blockage
The doctor conducts a thorough physical examination of the ear to evaluate the extent of accumulated wax
Diagnosis of Wax Blockage
The doctor conducts a thorough physical examination of the ear to evaluate the extent of accumulated wax
Causes of Wax Blockage
The ear canal has hair follicles and glands. The glands produce a waxy oil called cerumen which protects the ear from dust, bacteria, and foreign particles and prevents these from entering and damaging the ear.
The wax moves to the opening of the ear gradually and falls out or is removed by washing. The extent of wax secretion in the ears differs with people; some secrete excessive wax in comparison to others. For such people, wax hardens inside the ear canal, which could end up blocking the ear. The condition worsens, when the wax gets pushed inside during the cleaning process, resulting in ear blockage.
Wax blockage is one of the most common causes of deafness.
Other causes of ear blockage
1. Foreign body lodged within the ear can give rise to a sensation of block. This is common in children. One should not attempt to remove it by oneself; having it removed by a doctor is advisable.
2. Acute otitis externa or inflammation of the ear canal can give rise to a sensation of block. This also needs an examination by an ENT specialist. It can be treated with the help of medicines.
3. Eustachian catarrh or inflammation of the eustachian tube happens whenever one has a cold. This is a tube that connects the throat to the middle ear and during a cold this tube gets inflammed , giving a blocked feeling.
4. Tumors or growths within the ear canal can also give rise to a blocked feeling. This can be diagnosed by an ENT specialist.
5. Another common cause of 'blocked ear ' occurs when we travel in an aeroplane. When the aircraft ascends or descends, the air pressure within the cabin of the aircraft changes. This leads to pressure changes across the middle and outer ear which is reflected as a blocked feeling in the ear. This can be remedied by sucking on a sweet or lozenge during take off or landing. The problem gets corrected as soon as take off or landing is complete.
The ear canal has hair follicles and glands. The glands produce a waxy oil called cerumen which protects the ear from dust, bacteria, and foreign particles and prevents these from entering and damaging the ear.
The wax moves to the opening of the ear gradually and falls out or is removed by washing. The extent of wax secretion in the ears differs with people; some secrete excessive wax in comparison to others. For such people, wax hardens inside the ear canal, which could end up blocking the ear. The condition worsens, when the wax gets pushed inside during the cleaning process, resulting in ear blockage.
Wax blockage is one of the most common causes of deafness.
Other causes of ear blockage
1. Foreign body lodged within the ear can give rise to a sensation of block. This is common in children. One should not attempt to remove it by oneself; having it removed by a doctor is advisable.
2. Acute otitis externa or inflammation of the ear canal can give rise to a sensation of block. This also needs an examination by an ENT specialist. It can be treated with the help of medicines.
3. Eustachian catarrh or inflammation of the eustachian tube happens whenever one has a cold. This is a tube that connects the throat to the middle ear and during a cold this tube gets inflammed , giving a blocked feeling.
4. Tumors or growths within the ear canal can also give rise to a blocked feeling. This can be diagnosed by an ENT specialist.
Other causes of ear blockage
1. Foreign body lodged within the ear can give rise to a sensation of block. This is common in children. One should not attempt to remove it by oneself; having it removed by a doctor is advisable.
2. Acute otitis externa or inflammation of the ear canal can give rise to a sensation of block. This also needs an examination by an ENT specialist. It can be treated with the help of medicines.
3. Eustachian catarrh or inflammation of the eustachian tube happens whenever one has a cold. This is a tube that connects the throat to the middle ear and during a cold this tube gets inflammed , giving a blocked feeling.
4. Tumors or growths within the ear canal can also give rise to a blocked feeling. This can be diagnosed by an ENT specialist.
5. Another common cause of 'blocked ear ' occurs when we travel in an aeroplane. When the aircraft ascends or descends, the air pressure within the cabin of the aircraft changes. This leads to pressure changes across the middle and outer ear which is reflected as a blocked feeling in the ear. This can be remedied by sucking on a sweet or lozenge during take off or landing. The problem gets corrected as soon as take off or landing is complete.
Symptoms & Diagnosis of Ear Blockage
Partial hearing lossHow can Wax Blockage be treated ?
In most of the cases earwax blockage responds to home treatment. Some of the home remedies employ the use of Mineral oil, baby oil, glycerin, or commercial drops that assist in softening the wax in the ear
Never experiment with wax removal on your own. Wax blockage of the ear usually responds well to removal attempts. Removal of earwax by self treatment can lead to tearing of the eardrum and this may make the patient permanently deaf. Infections in the middle part (Otitis media) or external part of (Otitis externa) the ear may also be caused. Do not try to clean the ear by placing any object into the ear canal. The external ear can be washed with the help of a cloth put over a finger; it is vital to protect the ear without inserting anything into the ear.
If earwax blockage has been present and new symptoms such as drainage from the ear, persistent or severe ear pain, fever, or continuous difficulty in hearing are present, do not delay to see the docto
In most of the cases earwax blockage responds to home treatment. Some of the home remedies employ the use of Mineral oil, baby oil, glycerin, or commercial drops that assist in softening the wax in the ear
Never experiment with wax removal on your own. Wax blockage of the ear usually responds well to removal attempts. Removal of earwax by self treatment can lead to tearing of the eardrum and this may make the patient permanently deaf. Infections in the middle part (Otitis media) or external part of (Otitis externa) the ear may also be caused. Do not try to clean the ear by placing any object into the ear canal. The external ear can be washed with the help of a cloth put over a finger; it is vital to protect the ear without inserting anything into the ear.If earwax blockage has been present and new symptoms such as drainage from the ear, persistent or severe ear pain, fever, or continuous difficulty in hearing are present, do not delay to see the docto
More Valuable information about Wax Blockage
There are various types of hearing aids to help those who lose their hearing ability. Digital hearing aids are one of the advanced type of instruments used to enable the deaf person to hear utilizing digital signal processing (DSP) chips. About four years back in April 1996, the first fully digital behind-the-ear and in-the-ear instruments were made commercially available with a computing capacity of 40 million instructions per second. Digital signal processing hearing aids are a boon to the hearing impaired, as they are so wonderfully flexible, capable of satisfying the unique needs of such people.
There are various types of hearing aids to help those who lose their hearing ability. Digital hearing aids are one of the advanced type of instruments used to enable the deaf person to hear utilizing digital signal processing (DSP) chips. About four years back in April 1996, the first fully digital behind-the-ear and in-the-ear instruments were made commercially available with a computing capacity of 40 million instructions per second. Digital signal processing hearing aids are a boon to the hearing impaired, as they are so wonderfully flexible, capable of satisfying the unique needs of such people.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which Doctor should I see for blocked ears?
You should consult an ENT specialist.
2. Can I clean my ears regularly to avoid wax formation?
Wax is formed in the outer part of the ear canal, not in the inner portion near the eardrum. When you try to clean the ears with a cotton bud or any bent soft object, these objects only push the wax into deeper rather than taking it out. Also, the skin of the ear canal and the eardrum is very thin and fragile and can be easily injured. Earwax is healthy in normal amounts and acts as a coat on the skin of the ear canal where it acts as temporary water repellant. The absence of earwax can cause itching and dryness in your ears. Normally, you should never have to clean your ear canals. If you want to clean your ears, you can wash the external ear with a cloth over a finger, but do not insert anything into the ear canal. Most of the time the ear canals are self-cleaning. The slow and orderly migration of ear canal skin from the eardrum to the ear opening helps to transport the old earwax from the ear canal to the ear opening where it usually dries, flakes, and falls out.
You should consult an ENT specialist.
2. Can I clean my ears regularly to avoid wax formation?
Wax is formed in the outer part of the ear canal, not in the inner portion near the eardrum. When you try to clean the ears with a cotton bud or any bent soft object, these objects only push the wax into deeper rather than taking it out. Also, the skin of the ear canal and the eardrum is very thin and fragile and can be easily injured. Earwax is healthy in normal amounts and acts as a coat on the skin of the ear canal where it acts as temporary water repellant. The absence of earwax can cause itching and dryness in your ears. Normally, you should never have to clean your ear canals. If you want to clean your ears, you can wash the external ear with a cloth over a finger, but do not insert anything into the ear canal. Most of the time the ear canals are self-cleaning. The slow and orderly migration of ear canal skin from the eardrum to the ear opening helps to transport the old earwax from the ear canal to the ear opening where it usually dries, flakes, and falls out.
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