Cerumen Impaction Quiz

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Rohini R

Rohini R, MD (Ear, nose, throat (ENT))

Dr. Rohini R is an ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, with a Fellowship in Advanced Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery and a Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine and Lasers. Besides clinical practice and working with Ubie, she is actively training and mentoring medical students and residents. She has functioned in various work settings - teaching hospitals, private and free health centers, and worked with patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds due to her experience in free hospitals and volunteering in India and Singapore.

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People with these symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes

  • Can't hear from my right ear

  • Can't hear well on both sides but one side (left / right) is worse

  • Can't hear from my left ear

  • Hearing loss worse on one side than the other

  • Have trouble hearing

  • Deafness worse on the left or right

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Learn more about Cerumen impaction

Content updated on Nov 2, 2022

What is cerumen impaction?

Also known as earwax impaction. It can caused by infections, genetics or ear deformities. In many cases, digging the ears with cotton buds may worsen, rather than improve the condition.

Symptoms of cerumen impaction

  • Hearing difficulty

  • Ringing sounds in the ear, i.e. Tinnitus, on one side only

  • Significant difference in hearing difficulty between my left and right ear

Questions your doctor may ask to check for cerumen impaction

Your doctor may ask these questions to diagnose cerumen impaction

  • Do you have hearing problems?

  • Do you have ringing in one ear only?

  • Do you feel that there is a large difference in your hearing between left and right ear?

Treatment for cerumen impaction

Avoid digging the ears with cotton buds, as this often pushes wax deeper. Olive oil drops can soften the wax, allowing the ear to naturally let wax out. Failing that, a doctor can perform simple procedures such as flushing or suctioning to remove the wax.

View the symptoms of Cerumen impaction

  • Hearing loss

References

  • Michaudet C, Malaty J. Cerumen Impaction: Diagnosis and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2018 Oct 15;98(8):525-529. PMID: 30277727.

    https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2018/1015/p525.html

  • Sevy JO, Singh A. Cerumen Impaction Removal. 2021 Dec 15. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan–. PMID: 28846265.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448155/

  • McCarter DF, Courtney AU, Pollart SM. Cerumen impaction. Am Fam Physician. 2007 May 15;75(10):1523-8. PMID: 17555144.

    https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2007/0515/p1523.html

  • Schwartz SR, Magit AE, Rosenfeld RM, Ballachanda BB, Hackell JM, Krouse HJ, Lawlor CM, Lin K, Parham K, Stutz DR, Walsh S, Woodson EA, Yanagisawa K, Cunningham ER Jr. Clinical Practice Guideline (Update): Earwax (Cerumen Impaction). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017 Jan;156(1_suppl):S1-S29. doi: 10.1177/0194599816671491. Erratum in: Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017 Sep;157(3):539. PMID: 28045591.

    https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0194599816671491

  • Cerumen Impaction. Pediatrics. 2017 Feb;139(2):e20163912. doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-3912. PMID: 28138008.

    https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/139/2/e20163912/60306/Cerumen-Impaction

Reviewed By:

Rohini R

Rohini R, MD (Ear, nose, throat (ENT))

Dr. Rohini R is an ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, with a Fellowship in Advanced Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery and a Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine and Lasers. Besides clinical practice and working with Ubie, she is actively training and mentoring medical students and residents. She has functioned in various work settings - teaching hospitals, private and free health centers, and worked with patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds due to her experience in free hospitals and volunteering in India and Singapore.

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Rohini R, MD

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