Quick answer
A blocked ear that comes on gradually, mostly affects one side and comes with muffled hearing but little pain is often earwax. The NHS lists a blocked feeling, hearing loss, ringing and dizziness as symptoms of wax build-up. Sharp pain, a high temperature or fluid leaking from the ear points towards infection instead. You can try olive or almond oil drops for wax, and see a pharmacist or GP nurse if it has not cleared in 5 days.
Few things are more irritating than an ear that feels stuffed with cotton wool. Sounds are dull, your own voice booms, and you find yourself tilting your head like a dog hearing a strange noise. Before you reach for anything, it helps to know what you are dealing with. Here is a plain guide.
What a wax blockage usually feels like
Wax is one of the most common reasons for a blocked ear, and it has a recognisable pattern. According to the NHS, earwax build-up typically causes difficulty hearing, usually in one ear, plus itchiness and a feeling that the ear is blocked. Other signs the NHS mentions on its earwax page include earache, ringing or buzzing (tinnitus) and vertigo.
Things that point towards wax specifically:
- It came on gradually, over days or weeks, rather than suddenly.
- Sound is muffled or dull rather than painful.
- It may have started after using cotton buds, earbuds or a hearing aid, all of which can get in the way of wax leaving the ear.
- There is no fever and no fluid coming out.
The other usual suspects
Wax is not the only cause. These are the common ones.
| Possible cause | What it tends to feel like | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Earwax | Gradual muffling, fullness, often one ear, little pain | Oil drops or a pharmacist; see a nurse if not clear after 5 days |
| Water in the ear | Sudden blocked feeling after a shower or swim, may pop or gurgle | Often clears within hours or a day; do not poke at it |
| Outer ear infection | Pain, itching, sometimes discharge; the ear may be tender | See a pharmacist or GP |
| Middle ear infection or cold | Pressure, earache, sometimes a temperature, often after a cold | Speak to a pharmacist or GP |
| Fluid behind the eardrum | Muffled hearing without much pain, more common in children | See a GP, especially for children |
The NHS ear infections page lists ear pain, a high temperature, discharge running out of the ear and a feeling of pressure among the symptoms of infection. If those sound familiar, wax is unlikely to be the whole story.
Why do ears feel blocked after a shower?
This one is worth a mention because it is so common. Water can sit in the canal, especially if there is wax in the way, and wax can also absorb moisture and swell a little. Either can leave you feeling blocked shortly after a shower.
If it is water, it usually drains on its own. Tilt your head to the side, gently tug the earlobe, and give it a few hours. Do not push a cotton bud in to "soak it up", which tends to push both water and wax further in. If the blocked feeling is still there after a day or two, treat it as a possible wax problem rather than a water problem.
What you can safely try at home
If the signs point to wax, the NHS suggests softening it:
- Lie on your side with the blocked ear facing up.
- Put in 2 to 3 drops of olive or almond oil (not almond if you have a nut allergy).
- Stay lying down for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Repeat 3 to 4 times a day for 3 to 5 days.
The NHS says lumps of wax should fall out over about two weeks. A pharmacist can also suggest drops that dissolve wax. Our guide to removing ear wax at home walks through each option in more detail.
What not to do matters just as much: no cotton buds, fingers or hairpins, and no ear candles, which the NHS says have no evidence of working. Do not use drops if you have a perforated eardrum.
Where a sticky ear cleaner fits, and where it does not
A sticky ear cleaner such as Meravie lifts wax you can already see at the outer ear. It is not a treatment for a blocked ear and it does not reach wax deeper in the canal. If your ear feels blocked, the answer is drops or a professional, not a tool. If you only notice visible wax on the outside, that is a different and much simpler situation.
Safety first
Do not try to dig out a blockage yourself. If you have pain, discharge, sudden hearing loss, dizziness, a perforated eardrum, grommets or have had ear surgery, get advice before using drops or any tool.
When to get help
See a nurse at your GP surgery if wax symptoms have not cleared after 5 days, or if your ear is so blocked you cannot hear anything, as the NHS advises. Get medical advice sooner if you have:
- Ear pain, or pain that is getting worse.
- A high temperature or you feel generally unwell.
- Fluid or blood coming from the ear.
- A sudden change in hearing, or hearing loss in one ear that came on quickly.
- Dizziness, spinning or ringing that is new.
The NHS hearing loss page also advises seeing a GP if you think your hearing is getting gradually worse. Sudden hearing loss should never be put down to wax without a proper check.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my blocked ear is wax or an infection?
Wax usually builds up gradually and causes muffled hearing and fullness with little pain. Infection tends to start faster and often brings pain, a high temperature or discharge. If you are unsure, ask a pharmacist or GP.
How long does a blocked ear from earwax last?
Without treatment it can last for days or weeks. With oil drops, the NHS says lumps of wax should fall out over about two weeks. See a nurse at your GP surgery if it has not cleared after 5 days of treatment.
Why do my ears feel blocked after a shower?
Water can sit in the ear canal, particularly around wax, and wax can swell as it absorbs moisture. Often it clears within hours. If it lingers, wax is more likely.
Can earwax make you feel dizzy or cause ringing in the ear?
It can. The NHS lists tinnitus and vertigo among the symptoms of earwax build-up. Because those symptoms have other causes too, get them checked if they are new or do not settle.
Should I use cotton buds to unblock my ear?
No. The NHS says objects like cotton buds push wax in and make it worse.
The Meravie Sticky Ear Cleaner is a consumer ear-care product for adults, and for children with adult supervision, made for visible wax on the outer ear only. It is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose or treat impacted earwax, ear infections or hearing loss. If you have ear pain, discharge, sudden hearing loss, dizziness, a perforated eardrum, grommets or have had ear surgery, speak to your GP, pharmacist or audiologist.