Should I get the wax in my ears checked?

Question: Should I get the wax in my ears checked?

Answer: Not necessarily. Most people do not have a problem with earwax in their ears. In fact, earwax is normal and provides a necessary tool to protect the delicate eardrum from harm and pollens. Occasionally earwax may accumulate excessively in the canal, which impairs hearing or causes ear pain. Earwax can build up if a cotton swab is used to remove wax; it pushes the wax in deeper. Wax may also become excessive if you wear hearing aids and it cannot work itself out of the ear. Additionally, as we age, the skin of the ear canal breaks down and does not work wax out of the ear as it once did, which may also cause buildup.