Date
2023
Abstract
Earwax accumulation is the most common ear-related problem worldwide, for which patients seek medical care. Earwax impaction affects an estimated 1 in 10 children, 1 in 20 adults, and 1 in 3 older adults/elderly in the U.S. This results in 12 million patient visits for 8 million cerumen removal procedures annually, amounting to over $50 million in Medicare spending annually. While excess accumulation may cause hearing loss, ear pain, infections, or other ear-related pathologies, frequent ear wax removal in the clinic is not necessary and may be safely managed at home. This project details appropriate maintenance and prevention of earwax at home, and outlines when hospital or clinic follow-up is necessary.
Clinical Site
Newtown Primary Care & Pediatrics
Keywords
earwax, cerumen, impaction, ear, hearing loss
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Disciplines
Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Public Health Education and Promotion | Speech Pathology and Audiology
Recommended Citation
Nguyen, Kenny, "Earwax Maintenance at Home and Clinic" (2023). Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects. 1163.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1163
Included in
Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Public Health Education and Promotion Commons, Speech Pathology and Audiology Commons