Symptoms and related problems
Ear wax and tinnitus: is there a link?
A wax blockage can bring on ringing or buzzing in the ear. What the link is, whether removal helps and when tinnitus needs a proper assessment.
In short
- Yes. A wax blockage can bring on tinnitus: ringing, buzzing, humming or rushing sounds that don't come from outside.
- When wax is the cause, the noise usually comes with muffled hearing or a blocked feeling in the same ear.
- It often fades once the wax is cleared, though not always straight away. Tinnitus that was there before the blockage won't be cured by removal.
- Tell the clinician you have tinnitus before wax removal. Microsuction is noisy, and they can adapt how they work.
- See a GP if tinnitus carries on after the wax has gone. Tinnitus that beats in time with your pulse needs an urgent appointment.
Yes, ear wax can cause tinnitus. A plug of wax that blocks the ear canal can bring on ringing, buzzing or humming, usually in the same ear and alongside muffled hearing or a blocked feeling. When wax is the cause, the noise often fades once the wax is removed. Tinnitus that carries on afterwards, or that beats in time with your pulse, needs to be looked into properly.
How ear wax can cause tinnitus
Tinnitus is the name for hearing sounds that don't come from anything around you. The NHS lists a build-up of ear wax among the things a GP will look for, because it is one of the causes that is easy to treat.
Wax seems to set it off in a couple of ways. The first is simple blocking. With less sound coming in from outside, your brain turns up its sensitivity, and noises it would normally ignore become obvious. You can get a taste of this by pressing your palms over your ears in a quiet room. Much of what people hear with a wax blockage is this kind of background hum or rushing.
The second is contact. A plug of wax resting against the eardrum, or loose wax moving about in the canal, can crackle, rustle or pop when you chew, yawn or turn your head.
What wax-related tinnitus sounds like
Tinnitus can sound like ringing, buzzing, whooshing, humming, hissing or throbbing, and it can come and go or be there all the time. With wax, people most often describe a low hum or rush, like hearing the sea in a shell, sometimes with crackling when they move their jaw.
On its own, the type of noise doesn't tell you much. What makes wax more likely is the company it keeps:
Clues that wax may be behind it
- It started around the same time as muffled hearing
- It is in one ear, the one that feels blocked
- The ear feels full, itchy or slightly sore
- It began after a shower, swim or flight
- You use cotton buds, or have recently started wearing earbuds, earplugs or a hearing aid
If you recognise several of these, wax is worth ruling out first. Our guide to the signs of ear wax build-up covers the other symptoms to look for.
Some people notice their own heartbeat more clearly in a blocked ear. Even so, tinnitus that beats in time with your pulse should always be seen by a GP urgently, whatever you think the cause is.
Does removing ear wax stop tinnitus?
If wax was causing it, removal often helps, and some people notice the difference before they have left the room. For others the noise fades gradually over the following days. If tinnitus was there before the wax built up, removing the wax won't cure it, although some people find it less intrusive once their hearing is back to normal.
The removal itself can be noisy. Microsuction uses a fine suction tube close to the eardrum, and the sound is loud. Some people notice their tinnitus is louder for a short while afterwards. Lasting tinnitus after removal is rare, and our guide to whether microsuction is safe puts the risks in context.
Sometimes the clinician looks in and finds little or no wax. That is worth knowing, even if it feels like a wasted trip, because it rules out one of the easiest causes to fix and points you towards a GP to look into the others.
Mention your tinnitus when you book
A clinician who knows you have tinnitus or are sensitive to noise can take more breaks, work in short bursts or, where it suits your ears, consider ear irrigation or manual removal instead. Our comparison of microsuction and ear irrigation explains the differences between the methods.
Other common causes of tinnitus
Wax is only one of many causes, and not the most common. The NHS says tinnitus is often linked to:
- Hearing loss, particularly the gradual kind that comes with age or years of loud noise. Our guide to ear wax and hearing loss explains how to tell that apart from a wax blockage.
- Ménière's disease, an inner ear condition that also causes attacks of vertigo and hearing loss. See our guide to ear wax, dizziness and vertigo.
- Conditions elsewhere in the body, such as diabetes, thyroid disorders or multiple sclerosis.
- Anxiety or depression, which can both trigger tinnitus and make it harder to live with.
- Some medicines, including certain chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory painkillers and aspirin. Don't stop a prescribed medicine without talking to your GP or pharmacist first.
Ear infections can cause tinnitus too, and a short burst of ringing after a loud concert or a noisy night out is common. That kind usually fades within a day or so, but it is a sign your ears have had more noise than they would like. Wax and ear infections are the causes a GP can usually treat quickly, which is why they are looked for first.
When to see a GP about tinnitus
Tinnitus is rarely a sign of anything serious, but some patterns need a proper assessment. The NHS advises seeing a GP if:
- you have tinnitus regularly or all the time
- it is getting worse
- it is affecting your sleep or concentration, or making you feel anxious or low
- it is still there after wax has been removed
The GP will look in your ears for treatable causes such as wax or an infection, and may test your hearing. NICE guidance suggests considering referral to a specialist when tinnitus is persistent and affects one ear only, pulses, has changed noticeably or is causing distress.
Get urgent help
Ask for an urgent GP appointment if your tinnitus beats in time with your pulse.
Go to A&E or call 999 if you have tinnitus after a head injury, or tinnitus with sudden hearing loss, weakness in the muscles of your face or a spinning sensation (vertigo).
Coping with tinnitus while you sort out the wax
Waiting for drops to work or for an appointment can feel long when your ear is ringing. A few simple things make it easier to live with.
Do
- keep some soft background sound on at night, such as a fan or quiet music
- soften the wax with olive oil drops for 3 to 5 days, unless your eardrum may be perforated
- protect your ears from loud noise while they settle
- try to keep to your usual routine and sleep pattern
Don't
- poke at the ear with cotton buds or anything else
- use ear candles or home suction kits
- sit in total silence, which tends to make tinnitus more noticeable
- keep testing whether the noise is still there
If tinnitus carries on after the wax has gone, there is help available. The NHS may offer talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy or tinnitus counselling, sound therapy, or hearing aids if you also have some hearing loss. The charity Tinnitus UK runs a free helpline and lists support groups around the country.
For the wax itself, our guide on how to use ear drops explains how to soften it properly. If you are still blocked after 5 days, you can find an ear wax removal clinic or browse clinics by town. Our ear wax FAQs answer other common questions.
Find a clinic
Ringing in a blocked ear?
If drops haven't cleared it, search by town or postcode for a clinic near you and mention your tinnitus when you book.
Common questions
Can ear wax cause tinnitus in both ears?
It can if both ears are blocked, which is more common in people who wear two hearing aids or use earplugs every night. Tinnitus in both ears without any blocked feeling is more often linked to age-related hearing loss or noise exposure. A GP or clinician can look in both ears and tell you whether wax is likely to be involved.
How long does tinnitus last after ear wax removal?
When wax was the cause, many people notice the noise fading straight away or over the next few days. If it is still there after a couple of weeks, or getting worse, see a GP. It may have a different cause that the blockage was masking, or it may have been there before the wax built up.
Can microsuction cause tinnitus?
The suction is loud close to the ear, and some people notice brief ringing afterwards. It usually settles within a day or so. Lasting tinnitus after microsuction is rare. If you already have tinnitus or are sensitive to noise, say so before you start. Our guide to whether microsuction is safe covers side effects in more detail.
Can ear drops make tinnitus worse?
For a day or two, possibly. As drops soak into the wax, the plug can swell and the ear may feel more blocked, which can make tinnitus more noticeable for a while. That is normal and usually passes once the wax starts to break up. Stop using the drops and get advice if your ear becomes painful or starts to discharge.
Can stress make tinnitus from a blocked ear worse?
Stress doesn't cause a wax blockage, but it can make any tinnitus seem louder and harder to ignore, and tinnitus can in turn leave you feeling on edge. The NHS suggests relaxation such as deep breathing or yoga, a regular bedtime routine and cutting down on caffeine. Sorting out the wax usually takes away much of the worry too.
Treatments mentioned in this guide
Microsuction
Gentle suction under magnification
