Updated Guidelines for Treating Cerumen Impaction

Target Audience: All clinicians likely to diagnose and manage patients with cerumen impaction

Target Population: Patients older than 6 months

Background and Objective

Cerumen naturally migrates out of the ear canal assisted by jaw movement but may occlude or become impacted in the canal, sometimes causing hearing loss, tinnitus, itching, pain, or cough or impeding assessment of the tympanic membrane and middle ear structures. Cerumen impaction is diagnosed in 10% of children and 5% of adults. The new guidelines include consumer input, new published evidence, and a new management algorithm.

Key Points

• Diagnosis should be made using otoscopy during routine visits…