possibly. if excessive earwax was packed deeply against the eardrum (a common problem with q-tip users) the eardrum will not vibrate normally and tinnitus could be one of the symptoms (conductive hearing loss would be another). minor injury or inflammation to the eardrum (often from self-wax removal) is another possibility. there can be hundreds of different causes of tinnitus so it would be best to see a good ent for a thorough medical ear examination.
can excessive ear wax buildup intensify tinnitis?