Blocked ear causing tinnitus? Will ear wax removal stop the ringing?

[matt2121]

Hi, I've recently developed a blocked ear which I'm using ear drops twice a day for following a visit to my GP three days ago who couldn't see my eardrum when he examined me due to ear wax. The blockage in my ear has got worse since and the ringing in that ear is now quite noticeable. Can anyone provide any guidance if the blockage is causing my tinnitus and that once the wax is removed, the tinnitus should go away? Thanks.

[Hidden]

It could be that you had mild T all of the time but you are noticing it more due to the wax preventing the ambient sound from masking it.

Try not to worry/obsess about it as that may make things worse. You might want to mention the T to your GP too though.

[matt2121 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply. The tinnitus in my blocked ear developed at the same time as the ear started to become blocked so I’m hoping (seriously, I’ve got everything crossed) that it is this that is causing the tinnitus rather than it having been there already. If it had been there already I would have noticed it before the ear became blocked as it’s quite a night pitched ringing. The Doctor so far has been pretty useless for this problem having seen him last week so I’m thinking of just going and seeing a private specialist to have the wax removed.

[NicBTA Partner]

Hello and welcome to the British Tinnitus Association forum matt2121. Do feel free to ask any questions, I hope that you find this a helpful and supportive place to help you manage your tinnitus.

I'd have said hello sooner, but I've been on annual leave.

We have some resources that you might like to check out in addition to our home here:

tinnitus.org.uk

- especially tinnitus.org.uk/ear-wax

takeontinnitus.co.uk

Helpline 0800 018 0527 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) (outside the UK you can call [phone])

All I can report is my personal experience with impacted ear wax and tinnitus - I had the wax removed by microsuction at the local hospital (I was able to access NHS services as my ear drum was also damaged) and the tinnitus cleared up as soon as the wax was gone.

Warmest wishes

Nic (BTA Communications Manager and Forum Administrator)

[ears1011 in reply to NicBTA]

Do you mean when you say cleared up as soon as the wax was gone - that day or within several days or a week.

[NicBTA Partner in reply to ears1011]

Well, I was lucky and mine was that day, but for some people it's a bit longer - maybe several days

Nic

[JPreb]

saywhathearing.com/en/artic... Earwax DOES cause hearing loss because the earwax can block or occlude the sound from passing into the hearing canal. However, I do not know if it could cause tinnitus.. :/

[NHKennelSur54]

The most helpful thing I can add is that the first time I had my ears syringed felt like heaven for days afterwards. I get it mainly in one side so there was also an immediate feeling of being more balanced. At first the Tinnitus had virtually gone away but sadly syringing did not cure the problem although the next and only other time I have had it done also brought some relief.

I already had Tinnitus before the substantial build up of wax although it had not become knowledge to me or been diagnosed at that stage. The most likely cause in my case was a perforated ear drum. My present GP has always said that there's no build up of wax when I have asked her to check periodically after that and this might be down to me obsessing and looking after them better than when I was younger.

I have found GPs a mixed bag regarding my ears. One old locum actually hurt and I would have never let him near me again so can identify a little with the feelings you are expressing. I am though very grateful to the doctor who referred me to the local audiology unit from where I got significant support. It was a landmark in my life.

[Wisconsinite]

I was lucky -- my tinnitus, which had lasted four years, vanished the moment that the nurse-practitioner removed my earwax. There's no guarantee that this is true for everybody, but it worked for me.