Ear wax (cerumen) is produced by glands in the outer ear canal to trap small particles and prevent them from reaching and damaging the eardrum. A blockage of earwax (impaction) occurs when the wax gets pushed deep within the ear canal or fills the width of the canal.

A little ear wax is perfectly normal and healthy. However, occasionally ear wax can block your ears.The most common cause of earwax blockage is using Q-tips in the ear canal (and other objects such as bobby pins and rolled napkin corners), which pushes the wax deeper into the ear canal.