How and why earphones trigger blocked ears

We all know it’s not a good idea to stick things into our ears – from candles to cotton buds – but there’s one thing some of us use every single day that slips through the net. Earphones.

Some of us can’t imagine a day that goes by without using earphones. Whether it’s on the daily commute, daily gym session, or even throughout the working day. However, extended use can cause ear wax to build up and block ear canals. But why?

Your ears are self-cleaning and, over time, ear wax naturally is pushed out of the ear canal to keep your ears clean and clear. So, when you push earphones into your ears, you could actually be pushing ear wax deeper into the ear canal – therefore disrupting the natural clearing process. Over time, this could cause wax to build up and block your ears.

Also, if you wear your earphones when exercising, sweat can build up inside your ears which increases the moisture in the ear canal – creating a great place for bacteria and germs to thrive.

On top of this, if your earphones don’t get cleaned often, you could be exposing your ears to even more germs and bacteria, heightening your risk of ear infection.

So how do you know if you’re suffering from ear wax build up? You could feel an uncomfortable fullness in your ear and find your hearing dulled. In more extreme cases you may experience temporary hearing loss, and pain within your ear canal.

But don’t worry, there are lots of things you can do to avoid ear wax build up from extended earphone use so you can continue to enjoy your favourite music. Let’s break them down.

Try using over-ear headphones instead.
These don’t enter your ear canal at all, therefore won’t push wax in deeper.
Don’t share your earphones.
Sharing your earphones with friends and family can transfer bacteria into your own ears and increase your risk of ear infection.
Clean your earphones regularly.
Ear wax can build up inside your device, and over time can get pretty dirty. Clean your earphones regularly to keep your ears clean and your devices working properly. You can use an alcohol wipe to do this.
Take some breaks.
You’re more likely to experience ear wax build up if you wear your earphones for extended periods of time. So, try going without for a while, and let your ears breathe.

By following the above steps, you should be clear to hear your favourite tracks without wax build up from your earphones. But if your ears do get blocked up, you could experience symptoms such as dizziness, reduced hearing and an uncomfortable, full feeling inside your ears. If this happens, you can try ear drops such as Otex Express, which work by breaking hardened ear wax into smaller pieces so it can fall more easily from the ear. But, if symptoms persist or become painful, speak to your GP. They can advise further treatment options.