May also be called: Ear Impaction; Ear Blockage; Earwax Blockage; Impacted Earwax; Cerumen Inspissatum Impacted cerumen (se-ROO-men) is when earwax (cerumen) builds up in the ear and blocks the ear canal; it can cause temporary hearing loss and ear pain. More to Know Earwax is produced by glands in the ear canal, which leads from the outer ear to the eardrum. Earwax helps protect the ear by trapping dust and other foreign particles that could damage the ear. Normally, earwax moves toward the opening of the ear and falls out or is washed away, but some people's ears produce too much wax. The extra wax can build up and harden in the ear canal and become difficult to remove. Earwax also can become impacted when, during ear cleaning, the wax is accidentally pushed deeper into the ear canal. Impacted cerumen can cause earaches, temporary hearing loss, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), coughing, or a feeling that the ear is full or plugged. It also can increase the risk of an outer ear infection. Impacted cerumen should be removed by a doctor to help avoid damaging the ear. Treatment options include removing the earwax with instruments or by flushing the ear canal with special liquids. Keep in Mind Impacted cerumen may improve on its own, but treatment by a doctor is generally safe and effective. Hearing usually returns completely after the impacted earwax is removed. Trying to remove impacted cerumen at home with a cotton swab or by ear candling is not recommended. All A to Z dictionary entries are regularly reviewed by KidsHealth medical experts. Back to Articles Related Articles Dealing With Earwax Earwax helps protect the eardrum and fight infection. Parents shouldn't attempt to remove earwax at home, as doing so risks damage to the ear canal and, possibly, a child's hearing. Read More Ear Injuries Ear injuries not only can affect a child's hearing, but sense of balance too. That's because our ears also help keep us steady on our feet. Read More Eardrum Injuries A "popped" eardrum is more than just painful - it can sometimes lead to hearing loss. Learn about ruptured eardrums and how to prevent them. Read More Ears Hearing is their main job, but it's not all your ears do. Find out all about them in this body basics article for teens. Read More Is Earwax Removal Safe? Is it OK to use cotton swabs to remove earwax? Read More Swimmer's Ear You swam! You splashed! And now you have it: swimmer's ear. Read More Taking Care of Your Ears How do you take care of your ears? Find out in this article for kids. Read More What's Earwax? Why do our ears make earwax? Find out in this article for kids. Read More What's Hearing Loss? Hearing loss happens when there is a problem with the ear, nerves connected to the ear, or the part of the brain that controls hearing. Someone who has hearing loss may be able to hear some sounds or nothing at all. To learn more, read this article for kids. Read More Your Ears Now hear this! Here's an article about ears. Find out how your amazing ears do their amazing job. Read More Ears Hearing may be the ears' main job, but it's not all they do. Learn all about the ears in this Body Basics article. Read More Middle Ear Infections (Otitis Media) Ear infections are common among kids and, often, painful. Find out what causes them and how they're treated. Read More Swimmer's Ear (External Otitis) Swimmer's ear is an infection of the ear canal that can be caused by different types of bacteria or fungi. Find out how to prevent or treat it. Read More What Is an Ear Infection? A middle ear infection happens when germs like bacteria and viruses get in your middle ear and cause trouble. Read this article to find out more. Read More Word! Tinnitus Ring, ring, ring! It's not the phone - it's the word for a ringing sound in the ears. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.