Impacted Earwax: How to Care for Your Child

Everyone has earwax. But if earwax builds up and presses against the eardrum or blocks the ear canal, it can cause pain, itchiness, dizziness, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), or hearing loss. Too much earwax can also make it hard to examine the eardrum. Ear drops used at home can help soften earwax so it comes out. If earwax buildup is causing symptoms, a health care provider can rinse out the earwax or remove it with a tool while in the office.

• If recommended by your health care provider, use ear drops as directed.

• Don't use a cotton swab, finger, or anything else to clean the ear canal. These can injure the ear canal or eardrum, or push the wax in even more.

• If the health care provider removed the wax, follow any special instructions that were given.

• Your child's symptoms continue after following your health care provider's instructions.

• Your child develops ear pain or fever.

• Your child does not seem to hear normally.

Why do we have earwax? Earwax provides a waterproof lining of the ear canal, protecting it and the eardrum from water and germs that can cause infection. It also traps dirt, dust, and other particles, so they don't irritate or injure the eardrum.

What causes earwax buildup? Earwax buildup can be caused by:

• ears naturally making a lot of earwax

• narrow ear canals that get blocked easily

• using cotton swabs (such as Q-tips®) that push earwax deeper into the ear, rather than removing it

• hearing aids or ear plugs