Ear wax is a sticky substance secreted by cerumen glands. Ear wax protects the ear canal and ear drum from any foreign material. But development of ear wax in excess is the problem. In some this problem of excess wax is throughout their life, while some may start getting this “problem” wax suddenly without any reason or rhyme. In the same way one may get the problem wax in one ear and not the other. Sometimes an ear surgery may lead to the onset of ear wax problems.

Ear wax when plug up the ear can cause pain, cough, full feeling in the ear and hearing loss. The ear canal completely blocked by ear wax prevents the sound waves from easily reaching to the ear drums. Sometimes the wax formed is so hard that exerts pressure on the sensitive walls of ear canal which gives pain in the ear. Sometimes ear wax can be so problematic that even a very small amount of wax stuck between the ear canal wall and the ear drum can practically hinder the ear drum to conduct sound. Ear wax can incite tickling in the throat causing cough and this happens as the ear canal shares of the same nerves with throat.