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Wax blockage

Definition:
Wax blockage is obstruction of the ear canal with cerumen (wax).

Alternative Names:
Ear impaction; Cerumen impaction; Ear blockage; Ear wax

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The ear canal is lined with hair follicles and glands that produce a waxy oil called cerumen. This protects the ear by trapping dust, microorganisms, and other foreign particles and preventing them from entering and damaging the ear. The wax usually makes its way to the opening of the ear where it falls out or is removed by washing.

In some people, the glands produce more wax than can be easily excreted from the ear. This extra wax may harden within the ear canal and block the ear. More commonly, the ear canal may be blocked by wax when attempts to clean the ear push wax deeper into the ear canal and cause a blockage.

Wax blockage is one of the most common causes of hearing loss.



Review Date: 2/6/2003
Reviewed By: Steven Angelo, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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