I used ear wax removal and cannot hear: what should I do?

Hearing may remain blocked if wax has shifted deeper or was only partly removed. The ear canal can also become irritated or swollen after an attempt to clear it. Less commonly, the hearing change is unrelated to wax and may involve the eardrum or inner ear. New one-sided hearing loss deserves prompt assessment because its cause cannot be confirmed at home.

Keep the ear dry and avoid cotton buds, fingers, candles, and further drops unless a clinician has advised them. Do not repeat flushing if you have pain, a history of eardrum problems, ear surgery, or tubes. A clinician can look inside the canal and remove remaining wax with an appropriate method, such as microsuction, if suitable.

Seek urgent medical help for sudden or rapidly worsening hearing loss, severe vertigo, facial weakness, marked pain, blood or pus, or a severe headache. Arrange same-day advice for new hearing loss after a procedure. Contact a clinician soon if blockage persists or you also have earache or ringing.

Ask whether wax remains, whether the eardrum is intact, and whether the hearing change needs a hearing test. Tell them which removal method and products were used, when the change began, and whether one or both ears are affected.