The qualified GP said this red flag could be a warning for something very common that can be fixed in minutes
A doctor has spoken about an ear problem that can cause pain and a certain sound. Dr Ahmed, an NHS doctor who shares advice and medical knowledge on TikTok, said he’s recently noticed an influx of people attending his surgery with the common condition.
He urged anyone who’s noticed ear pain, a ringing sound or a general reduced sense of hearing to “get checked”. He explained: “You could need your ears checked and possibly micro-suctioned.”
He went on: “A lot of the time, people have wax that’s impacted in their ears, and this can be painful.” Earwax normally falls out on its own but, when it’s blocking your ears, you’ll need to seek help from a professional
Earwax doesn’t usually cause symptoms unless it builds up a lot. Earwax buildup can cause ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus. The sounds can be soft or loud, low or high pitched, and can come and go or be constant.
You might hear them in one or both ears, or in your head. Besides ringing, it can also sound like buzzing, hissing, noises that beat in time with your pulse, roaring, clicking and humming. Other symptoms of earwax buildup include:
- Hearing loss
- Earache
- Feeling of fullness in the ear
- Itchiness in the ear
- Dizziness
- Cough
- Odor or discharge in the ear
- Pain or infection in the ear
According to the NHS, earwax build-up can occur for several reasons, such as:
- Narrow or damaged ear canals
- Lots of hair in your ear canals
- A skin condition affecting your scalp or around your ear
- Inflammation of your ear canal (otitis externa or ‘swimmer’s ear’)
Thankfully, Dr Ahmed explains the procedure to unblock the ears is “very simple”. In some cases, the process can take no more than a couple of minutes. However, it needs to be done by an expert.
The doctor, audiologist, or well-trained nurse performing the procedure will look in your ear using a specialist microscope. Then, a suction device will be carefully placed inside to pull the wax out.
When wax is the problem, this process usually makes patients feel “instantly better,” Dr Ahmed said. He explained that the ringing tends to stop and pain fades away. Clearing out an irritating ear blockage can also allow doctors to see your eardrum better and identify other issues, such as infections.
Earwax buildup can prevent sound waves from reaching the ear, causing conductive hearing loss. If left untreated, this can lead to permanent hearing loss. You cannot prevent earwax from forming as it’s there to “protect your ears from dirt and germs”. You should never use your fingers or any objects like cotton buds to remove earwax as this will push it deeper and make any problems worse.