Earwax (cerumen) is normally produced only in the outer half of the ear canal and will not become deeply impacted unless it is pushed in. The ear canal may become blocked (impacted) when attempts to clean the ear with cotton swabs, bobby pins or a finger push wax deeply into the ear canal.
Impacted earwax may cause some hearing loss or other problems, such as ringing in the ears (tinnitus), a full feeling in the ears or vertigo. Poking at the wax with cotton swabs, your fingers or other objects usually only further compacts the wax against the eardrum.
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