• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Wax blockage

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

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, 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: 10/20/2006
• Reviewed By: Alden J. Pearl, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.