Almost 10 million people in England can no longer access free NHS earwax removal services, the RNID has warned.
The hearing loss charity said there was “no medical reason” for the withdrawal of NHS services across parts of England since 2019.
And some people unable to afford private treatment were turning to “dangerous self-removal methods”.
The government said GPs can still refer patients on to a specialist service if the problem is linked to hearing loss.
Each year, about 2.3 million people in the UK need earwax treatment, according to the NHS.
It is more common among older people, hearing-aid users and those with a learning disability.
Wax build-up in the ear canal can cause painful symptoms including tinnitus, earache and hearing loss.
It often requires removal before a hearing test and can interfere with certain hearing aids, causing a distracting whistling sound.
Helen Kendall, 76, from Bath, Somerset, says she now has to pay £240 a year for private treatment, because the GPs in her area no longer offer a free service.
