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    Navigate: FAQ Home Page > General Health Questions > Problem with left ear
    Posted on: 04/01/2011

    Question

    Hello, there is something wrong with my left jaw joint and my left ear. My left ear feels blocked and clogged everytime my jaw is closed, but it doesn't feel blocked and I can hear better if I pull on the earlobe of my left ear. Also when I open my jaw, the left joint makes a weird crackling sound. Please tell what to do to fix this.

    Answer

    Your symptoms may be due to impacted cerumen (stuck ear wax). The weird crackling sound can be due to a few things, but is most likely due to movement of the ear wax against your ear drum. Other possibilities include pressure changes in your middle ear cavity as you open your jaw and TMJ (jaw joint) problem, but this is less likely if you do not have pain in the TMJ joint. You should see your doctor to determine what exactly is causing your symptoms. Stuck ear wax can be easily flushed out in the clinic. Hope this helps!


    Answered By:
    Frank Lin , M.D.


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