Is there anything I can do to treat excess earwax?

Earwax usually falls out on its own but ear drops may be used to soften and loosen excess wax, helping it work its way out naturally. If the earwax completely blocks the ear canal and causes hearing loss, it may need to be removed.

“NICE guidelines recommend that people use ear drops for three to five days and then visit their GP to see if the earwax can be removed,” says Louise Hart, senior audiologist for Action on Hearing Loss.

“If the wax is still too hard, they should add drops for another three to five days and then return to their GP. Research is not yet clear on how well certain interventions work, but experts also suggest using either sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, or olive or almond oil ear drops. The suggested frequency of use varies from daily to once a fortnight.”