Ear wax
Sometimes, the wax builds up and causes symptoms, including mild deafness and a sensation of fullness inside the ear. This condition is usually harmless and easily treated. In some cases, the wax plug loosens and falls out by itself without the need for intervention.

Ear wax is made up of old skin cells, dirt, and cerumen, which is produced by the ear canal.

Symptoms
• Mild deafness
• Earache
• A sensation of fullness inside the ear
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
• Dizziness

Why do we have wax in our ears?
Ear wax actually keeps the ears clean. It protects the tissues from infection that can be caused by dirt, micro-organisms, and other things that can harm it. The wax does not stay in one place. It is slowly moving toward the outer, where it can come out. Even things like talking and chewing help move the wax out.

When ear wax creates blockages
People who have the following are more likely to be at risk for wax buildup:
• A tendency to produce a lot of ear wax
• Narrow or hairy ear canals
• Cleaning too much and too hard, pushing wax further down the canals
• Being in dusty or dirty environments
• Skin or scalp problems 

Treatment
Your doctor or pharmacist may suggest one of the following treatments: 
• Special drops to soften the ear wax
• Ear syringe to squirt warm water into the ear canal to float ear wax out
• A suction device to draw out the ear wax
• A special hook or forceps to remove ear wax

In more extreme cases, an ear specialist may be needed to help with treatment.

Prevention
If you want to reduce wax build-up, consider the following:
• Use wax-softening drops or oil
• Don't use cotton buds or fingertips to clean the ear as it can make the wax harder to remove
• Clean the outer ear only
• Treat any skin condition that might affect the ears

Reference:

"Ear Wax," Better Health Channel (Web Site), Retrieved on January 21, 2007.