The ears may often produce a waxy substance known as cerumen or earwax. This wax serves to protect the ear from dust and any foreign particles, as well as harmful bacteria. It also serves to protect the ear canal skin from skin irritation. Normally excess wax may exit out of the ear opening naturally where it is washed away.
When your ears produce more earwax than normal, the excess cerumen may get hard and may cause blockage to the ear. Wax buildup is actually a common reason for temporary hearing loss.
Earwax blockage is usually caused by using Q-tips and other objects in the ear canal, which further pushes the wax deeper into the ear canal. People who use hearing aids and earplugs are also prone to earwax blockage.