A scientific study conducted in the UK found that ear wax affects the sense of hearing. The study, conducted by a research team from the National Institute for Health and Care Research at the University of Manchester, found that more than two million people in the UK alone suffer from a build-up of earwax, which needs to be removed on a regular basis.
Earwax is made up of shed skin cells and secretions from wax glands located inside the outer ear. The study included 500 adults who contacted the National Health Service in Great Britain because they feel that their ears are blocked and they have difficulty hearing. The research team confirmed that wax in the ears affects the ability to communicate with others, makes it difficult to listen to television or hear the sounds of the environment, and may lead to feelings of discomfort or ringing in the ear.
Meanwhile, 60% of the study participants stated that the earwax problem bothers them a lot, and 80% said that they felt an improvement immediately after removing the earwax. The Medical Express website quoted researcher Kevin Munro, an ear disease expert, who said, “If someone wants to simulate the feeling of wax in the ear, they should put their finger in for a few days and then they will know how dangerous it is.”
He also emphasized that “the traditional method of removing the wax by injecting water with a syringe into the ear is not recommended” and noted that “there are other and safer methods for removing wax.”