Excessive Earwax in Children: When to See a Pediatrician
Verywell / Julie Bang
Medically reviewed by Lyndsey Garbi, MD
Excessive earwax in children is caused by a buildup of earwax, also known as cerumen. Earwax normally protects the ear against infection, water exposure, and even insects. But too much earwax in your child's ear can lead to ear pain, itchiness, and other symptoms.
While there are ways to safely clean your child's ears, there are times when it's best to see their pediatrician for additional help.
This article explores the purpose of your child's earwax, signs of buildup, the best earwax removal methods for children and babies, earwax prevention, and when to seek help from a pediatrician.
Earwax Buildup Symptoms
It is thought that up to 10% of children have excessive earwax. In some cases, symptoms of excessive earwax may include:
Hearing loss ranging from 5 to 40 decibels (dB)
Ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus
Ear canal that feels full or clogged
Itchiness in the ear canal
Ear pain, known as otalgia
Discharge or ear drainage, known as otorrhea
Odor from the ear canal
Dizziness
Cough
When to Seek Help
If your child is complaining of ear pain, is tugging on their ear, or is showing any other signs of discomfort, speak with their pediatrician. You should also call their pediatrician if you think your child got something stuck in their ear or if they have trouble hearing.
Related: Causes of Ear Pain and Treatment Options
The Purpose of Earwax
Earwax builds up naturally in the ear canal and helps keep the ear clean. Earwax carries dirt, dust, and other small unneeded or harmful things out of the ear.
There's some evidence that earwax has antibacterial properties and can fight infections, including Staphyloccocus (staph) bacteria that cause swimmer's ear and Escherichia coli (E. coli).
Related: What Causes Staph Infections in the Ear and How to Treat Them
Types of Earwax
There are two types of earwax—wet and dry. Dry earwax is more flaky than wet and is tan or gray. Wet is usually a dark earwax, and may be brown and sticky.
Genes can impact the type of earwax you have. Wet earwax is common among those of African and European ancestry. Dry earwax is more common among those of Asian and Native American descent.
Earwax protects harmful items and germs from entering the ear. Earwax naturally moves from inside the ear to the outer ear.
Why Does My Child Have So Much Earwax?
Children with narrow ear canals are more likely to have too much earwax. Wearing hearing aids and regularly using earbuds can also cause excessive earwax.
Chronic ear infections and ear trauma raise the risk of having excess earwax, as does living with Down syndrome.
What Is Impacted Earwax?
Impacted earwax is an excessive buildup of wax that becomes tightly packed over time. Sometimes, this leads to a partial or complete blockage of the ear canal with a hard wax plug. It can happen due to certain health conditions, like eczema or lupus.
Related: What Is Childhood-Onset Lupus?
How Do I Get Wax Out of My Baby's Ear?
Earwax should be left alone if it is not causing symptoms and is not preventing your pediatrician from examining your child's ear. If you do clean your child's ears, use a soft washcloth to wipe away wax that makes its way to the very outer part of the ear.
You should never use a cotton swab to clean inside your child's ear. Cotton swabs may cause you to push the earwax deeper into the ear, making it harder for it to come out and possibly causing damage to the inner ear.
There are three main methods of earwax removal if excessive wax is causing a problem.
Wax-Softening Agents
Wax-softening agents, also called cerumenolytics, are typically available as ear drops. These may be:
Water-based (containing acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, or sterile saline)
Oil-based (olive oil)
Non-water, non-oil-based products (carbamide peroxide, which goes by the brand name Debrox)
Most can be bought over the counter at your local pharmacy, often with some type of earwax removal tool, like a bulb syringe.
Irrigation
Irrigation uses a fluid to flush out earwax. This is typically done in a doctor's office. Earwax irrigation should be avoided in children who are more at risk for getting ear infections. Young children also may be less cooperative with the procedure.
Manual Removal
With manual removal, your pediatrician may use a small tool, called a curette, to remove the excess earwax. Wax can also be manually removed by suctioning it out. This procedure is called microsuction ear cleaning.
Manual removal may be the best choice for kids who have ear tubes or who have had eardrum trauma. However, manual removal may not be the best choice for children who have bleeding disorders. It can cause trauma to the ear with a risk of bleeding.
Ear candling should be avoided. This method is not proven to successfully remove earwax and there is a risk of causing damage to the ear, including burns.
Related: What You Need to Know About Earwax
Preventing Earwax Buildup
There are several ways to prevent your child's earwax from building up.
Let the earwax come out naturally.
If possible, have your child use noise-canceling headphones instead of earbuds.
Have your child routinely use a preventive wax-softening agent.
Help your child irrigate their ears regularly.
Have your child's pediatrician manually clean their ears every six to 12 months.
If your child continues to have trouble with excessive earwax, reach out to a pediatric ear, nose, and throat specialist for additional help.
Summary
Excessive earwax can build up in children if they are prone to ear infections, have small ear canals, or experienced ear trauma. Hearing aids, earbuds, and improper wax removal can also lead to excess earwax.
Too much earwax can cause painful and uncomfortable symptoms. These may include dizziness, ear pain, ear itchiness, ear discharge, ringing, and coughing.
To remove your child's earwax safely, gently wipe away the wax in the outer ear with a soft cloth. Other removal methods include irrigation, using wax-softening products, and manual removal. If your child is showing signs of ear-related pain or discomfort, it's best to reach out to their pediatrician.
