Wax in the ears is a common and easily treatable cause of deafness, discomfort, and sometimes noises in your ears (tinnitus).

Ear wax is produced by all of us. It only causes problems when it builds up, which may be due to over-production or difficulties in the natural clearance of the wax.

You may notice a build-up of wax by:

• having increasing difficulty hearing
• pain in your ear or ears
• hearing a noise or ringing in your ears (tinnitus)
• an awareness of something blocking your ears
• temporary deafness after swimming or having a bath or shower

The skin cells lining our outer ear canals include tiny glands, similar to sweat glands, which produce wax. The point seems to be that this acts as a protective layer, which traps dust and other particles which get into the ear. The wax slowly works its way to the outside, taking the trapped dirt and dust with it.

Most people's ears clear the wax, which probably comes off on our pillows and towels etc., at a rate which means that it does not build up. Some people may, at some stages in their lives, produce wax at a faster rate. Other people have either one or both ear canals that is narrow, or that is at an angle which slows the natural passage of the wax. In these people the wax builds up.

The wax may eventually block off the ear canal all together. If this happens, hearing is reduced and there is an increased likelihood that stagnation may lead to an infection building up behind the obstruction.

The doctor or nurse will look in your ears. We all produce wax, so what they are looking for is evidence of the wax actually blocking off the ear canal.

Deafness can be caused by other problems in the ear, and if there is not enough wax to explain your problem, the doctor will be able to discuss other possible causes for your symptoms, for example fluid collecting on the other side of the ear drum when the tube which drains from the middle ear to the throat (the eustachian tube) has become blocked, as after a cold.

If you think you have ear wax blocking your ears, either buy some wax softening drops from the pharmacy, or use a couple of drops of warmed (body temperature) olive oil into your ear two or three times a day, for a few days.

After three or four days arrange to see someone regarding having your ears washed out. The nurse at your doctor's office will usually be able to do this for you.

If you have ear pain, a temperature, or are otherwise concerned, you should speak to or see your doctor sooner.

If you know that you have a hole in your ear drum (a perforation), you should not put drops in your ear without having first discussed it with your doctor or a competent medical advisor.

• Do not try to clean out your ears by using a cotton bud. (Ear Nose and Throat specialists sometimes say "You shouldn't stick anything in your ear that's any smaller than your elbow!") This may merely act like a ram rod, and could damage the ear drum.
• It may help to wear ear plugs if you work in a particularly dusty environment.
• If you keep getting ears blocked with wax, it may be worth using a couple of drops of olive oil into each ear once or twice a week.