Earwax

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Earwax
Other namesCerumen
OhrenSchmalzBrocken.jpg
Wet-type human earwax
Pronunciation
Specialty Otorhinolaryngology
Prognosis Prevalence

Earwax, also known by the medical term cerumen, is a waxy substance secreted in the ear canal of humans and other mammals. Earwax can be many colors, including brown, orange, red, yellowish, and gray. Earwax protects the skin of the human ear canal, assists in cleaning and lubrication, and provides protection against bacteria, fungi, particulate matter, and water. [1]

Contents

Major components of earwax include cerumen, produced by a type of modified sweat gland, and sebum, an oily substance. Both components are made by glands located in the outer [2] ear canal. The chemical composition of earwax includes long chain fatty acids, both saturated and unsaturated, alcohols, squalene, and cholesterol. Earwax also contains dead skin cells and hair. [3]

Excess or compacted cerumen is the buildup of ear wax causing a blockage in the ear canal [2] and it can press against the eardrum or block the outside ear canal or hearing aids, potentially causing hearing loss.

Physiology

Earwax in ear Ear Wax.JPG
Earwax in ear
Dry-type human earwax Dry earwax cropped.jpg
Dry-type human earwax
World map of the distribution of the A allele of the single nucleotide polymorphism rs17822931 in the ABCC11 gene associated with dry-type earwax. The proportion of A alleles (dry-type earwax) in each population is represented by the white area in each circle. World map ABCC11 A Allele.svg
World map of the distribution of the A allele of the single nucleotide polymorphism rs17822931 in the ABCC11 gene associated with dry-type earwax. The proportion of A alleles (dry-type earwax) in each population is represented by the white area in each circle.

Cerumen is produced in the cartilaginous outer third portion of the ear canal. It is a mixture of secretions from sebaceous glands and less-viscous ones from modified apocrine sweat glands. [4] The primary components of both wet and dry earwax are shed layers of skin, with, on average, 60% of the earwax consisting of keratin, 12–20% saturated and unsaturated long-chain fatty acids, alcohols, squalene and 6–9% cholesterol. [5]

Wet or dry

There are two genetically-determined types of earwax: the wet type, which is dominant, and the dry type, which is recessive. This distinction is caused by a single base change in the "ATP-binding cassette C11 gene". Dry-type individuals are homozygous for adenine (AA) whereas wet-type requires at least one guanine (AG or GG). [6] Dry earwax is gray or tan and brittle, and is about 20% lipid. [5] It has a smaller concentration of lipid and pigment granules than wet earwax. [5] Wet earwax is light brown or dark brown and has a viscous and sticky consistency, and is about 50% lipid. [5] Wet-type earwax is associated with armpit odor, which is increased by sweat production. [6] [7]

Some East Asians (including Yamato Japanese), Southeast Asians and Native Americans (including Inuit [8] ) are more likely to have the dry type of earwax (gray and flaky), while Africans, Europeans, and other East Asians (including Ainu [9] ) are more likely to have wet type earwax (honey-brown, dark orange to dark-brown and moist). [10] 30–50% of South Asians, Central Asians and Pacific Islanders have the dry type of cerumen. [11]

Cleaning

Cleaning of the ear canal occurs as a result of the "conveyor belt" process of epithelial migration, aided by jaw movement. [12] From the umbo, cells formed in the center of the tympanic membrane move to the walls of the ear canal, and then towards the entrance of the ear canal. The cerumen in the ear canal is also carried outwards, taking with it particulate matter that may have gathered in the canal. Jaw movement dislodges debris from the walls of the ear canal to assist in this process.

Removing earwax is in the scope of practice for audiologists and otorhinolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat doctors).

Lubrication

The lubrication provided by cerumen prevents drying of the skin within the ear canal. The high lipid content of the sebum produced by the sebaceous glands causes the cerumen to work like lubrication. In wet-type cerumen, these lipids include cholesterol, squalene, and many long-chain fatty acids and alcohols. [13] [14]

Antimicrobial effects

While studies conducted up until the 1960s found little evidence supporting antibacterial activity for cerumen, [15] more recent studies have found that cerumen has a bactericidal effect on some strains of bacteria. Cerumen has been found to reduce the viability of a wide range of bacteria, including Haemophilus influenzae , Staphylococcus aureus , and many variants of Escherichia coli , sometimes by as much as 99%. [16] [17] The growth of two fungi commonly present in otomycosis was also significantly inhibited by human cerumen. [18] These antimicrobial properties are due principally to the presence of saturated fatty acids, lysozyme and, especially, to the slight acidity of cerumen (pH typically around 6.1 in average individuals [19] ). Conversely, other research has found that cerumen can support microbial growth and some cerumen samples were found to have bacterial counts as high as 107/g cerumen. The bacteria were predominantly commensals. [20]

Excess earwax (impacted cerumen)

Earwax helps protect the ear by trapping dust and other foreign particles that could filter through and damage the eardrum. [5] Normally, earwax moves toward the opening of the ear and falls out or is washed away, but sometimes excessive earwax can gather and become hard to remove. This is referred to as excessive earwax or impacted cerumen. [21]

Excessive earwax may impede the passage of sound in the ear canal, causing mild [22] conductive hearing loss, pain in the ear, itchiness, or dizziness. Untreated impacted wax can result in hearing loss, social withdrawal, poor work function, and mild paranoia. People with impacted wax may also present with perforated eardrums; this is usually induced by putting objects in the ear in an attempt to remove the wax. [5] A physical exam usually checks for visibility of the tympanic membrane, which can be blocked by excessive cerumen.

Impacted cerumen may improve on its own, but treatment by a doctor is generally safe and effective. Hearing usually returns completely after the impacted earwax is removed.

Hearing aids may be associated with increased earwax impaction [23] by blocking earwax from leaving the ear canal. [5] Earwax can also get into a hearing aid's vents and receivers, and degrades the components inside the hearing aid due to its acidity. [24] Earwax is estimated to be the cause of 60–80% of hearing aid faults. Excessive earwax can also cause tinnitus, a constant ringing in the ears, [25] ear fullness, hearing loss and ear pain. [5]

Impacted earwax is more common in those with Down's syndrome, due to the smaller, curved shape of the ear canal. [26]

Treatment

Movement of the jaw helps the ears' natural cleaning process. The American Academy of Otolaryngology discourages earwax removal, unless the excess earwax is symptomatic. [27]

While a number of methods of earwax removal are effective, their comparative merits have not been determined. [28] A number of softeners are effective; however, if this is not sufficient, [28] the most common method of cerumen removal is syringing with warm water. [29] A curette method is more likely to be used by audiologists and otolaryngologists when the ear canal is partially occluded and the material is not adhering to the skin of the ear canal, but due to the high skill level needed to not damage the eardrum, is limited. [5] Cotton swabs are not recommended as they push most of the earwax farther into the ear canal and remove only a small portion of the top layer of wax that happens to adhere to the fibers of the swab. [30]

Softeners

This process is referred to as cerumenolysis. Topical preparations for the removal of earwax may be better than no treatment, and there may not be much difference between types, including water and olive oil. [28] [31] However, there were not enough studies to draw firm conclusions, and the evidence on irrigation and manual removal is equivocal. [28]

Commercially or commonly available cerumenolytics include: [32]

A cerumenolytic should be used 2–3 times daily for 3–5 days prior to the cerumen extraction. [33]

Microsuction

Microsuction involves the use of a vacuum suction probe to break up and extract impacted cerumen. Microsuction can be preferred over other methods as it avoids the presence of moisture in the ear, is often faster than irrigation, and is performed with direct vision of the earwax being removed. [34] Typically, a camera with lights and guide hole is utilised, with a long metal vacuum probe being inserted into the guide hole - the practitioner is then able to see inside the ear and remove earwax under pressure. Potential adverse effects include dizziness, temporary tinnitus, and reduced hearing due to volume of the pump and the proximity of the vacuum probe to the ear drum - the frequency of these are reduced where the cerumen is softened in the five days preceding microsuction. In general, microsuction is well tolerated and even preferred by many patients. [35]

Ear irrigation

Once the cerumen has been softened, it may be removed from the ear canal by irrigation, but the evidence on this practice is ambiguous. [28] If a patient has a perforated eardrum, syringing can force infections into the middle ear, and residual water can cause an infection in the outer ear. [5]

This may be effectively accomplished with a spray type ear washer, commonly used in the medical setting or at home, with a bulb syringe. [36] Ear syringing techniques are described in great detail by Wilson & Roeser [33] and Blake et al. [37] who advise pulling the external ear up and back, and aiming the nozzle of the syringe slightly upwards and backwards so that the water flows as a cascade along the roof of the canal. The irrigation solution flows out of the canal along its floor, taking wax and debris with it. The solution used to irrigate the ear canal is usually warm water, [37] normal saline, [38] sodium bicarbonate solution, [39] or a solution of water and vinegar to help prevent secondary infection. [37]

Affected people generally prefer the irrigation solution to be warmed to body temperature, [38] as dizziness is a common side effect of ear washing or syringing with fluids that are colder or warmer than body temperature. [29] [37]

Mechanical removal using a curette or cotton swabs

Earwax can be removed with an ear pick or curette, which physically dislodges the earwax and scoops it out of the ear canal. [40] In the West, use of ear picks is usually only done by health professionals. Curetting earwax using an ear pick was common in ancient Europe and is still practised in East Asia. Since the earwax of most Asians is of the dry type, [10] it is extremely easily removed by light scraping with an ear pick, as it simply falls out in large pieces or dry flakes.

It is generally advised not to use cotton swabs (Q-Tips or cotton buds), as doing so will likely push the wax farther down the ear canal, and if used carelessly, perforate the eardrum. [30] Abrasion of the ear canal, particularly after water has entered from swimming or bathing, can lead to ear infection. Also, the cotton head may fall off and become lodged in the ear canal. Therefore, cotton swabs should be used only to clean the external ear.

Ear candles

Ear candling is a dangerous, ineffective, and counterproductive [27] [41] alternative medicine practice that involves a lighting a hollow candle and placing the unlit end in the ear canal. Advocates say that the dark residue appearing on the candle after the procedure consists of extracted earwax, but studies show that the same dark residue is left regardless of whether the candle is inserted into an ear, as the residue is derived from the candle itself and not the ear. [42] The American Academy of Otolaryngology states that ear candles are not a safe option for removing ear wax, and that no controlled studies or scientific evidence support their use for ear wax removal. [43] Survey responses from medical specialists (otolaryngologists) in the United Kingdom reported ear injuries including burns, ear canal occlusions and ear drum perforations and secondary ear canal infections with temporary hearing loss from ear candling. [41] The Food and Drug Administration has taken several regulatory actions against the sale and distribution of ear candles since 1996, including seizing ear candle products and ordering injunctions, and ear candles are now marked as "providing no health benefit". [43]

Ear vacuuming

Home "ear vacs" were ineffective at removing ear-wax when compared to a Jobson-Horne probe. [44]

Potential complications

A postal survey of British general practitioners [29] found that only 19% always performed cerumen removal themselves. It is problematic as the removal of cerumen is not without risk, and physicians and nurses often have inadequate training for removal. Irrigation can be performed at home with proper equipment as long as the person is careful not to irrigate too hard. All other methods should be carried out only by individuals who have been sufficiently trained in the procedure.

The author Bull advised physicians: "After removal of wax, inspect thoroughly to make sure none remains. This advice might seem superfluous, but is frequently ignored." [39] This was confirmed by Sharp et al., [29] who, in a survey of 320 general practitioners, found that only 68% of doctors inspected the ear canal after syringing to check that the wax was removed. As a result, failure to remove the wax from the canal made up approximately 30% of the complications associated with the procedure. Other complications included otitis externa (swimmer's ear), which involves inflammation or bacterial infection of the external acoustic meatus, as well as pain, vertigo, tinnitus, and perforation of the ear drum. Based on this study, a rate of major complications in 1/1000 ears syringed was suggested. [29]

Claims arising from ear syringing mishaps account for about 25% of the total claims received by New Zealand's Accident Compensation Corporation ENT Medical Misadventure Committee. [37] While high, this is not surprising, as ear syringing is an extremely common procedure. Grossan suggested that approximately 150,000 ears are irrigated each week in the United States, and about 40,000 per week in the United Kingdom. [45] Extrapolating from data obtained in Edinburgh, Sharp et al. [29] place this figure much higher, estimating that approximately 7000 ears are syringed per 100,000 population per annum. In the New Zealand claims mentioned above, perforation of the tympanic membrane was by far the most common injury resulting in significant disability.

Prevalence

The prevalence of impacted earwax is different across the world.

In the United Kingdom 2 to 6% of the population have cerumen that is impacted. In America 3.6% of emergency visits caused by ear issues were due to impacted cerumen. In Brazil 8.4–13.7% of the population have impacted cerumen. [46]

History

An ear-cleaner, attending to a man's ear. Gouache painting, Delhi, 1825. An ear-cleaner, attending to a man's ear. Gouache painting Wellcome L0022250.jpg
An ear-cleaner, attending to a man's ear. Gouache painting, Delhi, 1825.

The treatment of excess ear wax was described by Aulus Cornelius Celsus in De Medicina in the 1st century: [47]

When a man is becoming dull of hearing, which happens most often after prolonged headaches, in the first place, the ear itself should be inspected: for there will be found either a crust such as comes upon the surface of ulcerations, or concretions of wax. If a crust, hot oil is poured in, or verdigris mixed with honey or leek juice or a little soda in honey wine. And when the crust has been separated from the ulceration, the ear is irrigated with tepid water, to make it easier for the crusts now disengaged to be withdrawn by the ear scoop. If it is wax, and if it is soft, it can be extracted in the same way by the ear scoop; but if hard, vinegar containing a little soda [48] is introduced; and when the wax has softened, the ear is washed out and cleared as above. ... Further, the ear should be syringed with castoreum mixed with vinegar and laurel oil and the juice of young radish rind, or with cucumber juice, mixed with crushed rose leaves. The dropping in of the juice of unripe grapes mixed with rose oil is also fairly efficacious against deafness.

Uses

Notes

  1. ↑ "Earwax". american-hearing.org. Chicago, Illinois: American Hearing Research Foundation. 2008. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  2. 1 2 Khan S (2019). "Cerumen impaction". The APRN and PA's Complete Guide to Prescribing Drug Therapy. doi:10.1891/9780826179340.0061. ISBN   978-0-8261-7933-3. S2CID   1415169.
  3. ↑ Okuda I, Bingham B, Stoney P, Hawke M (June 1991). "The organic composition of earwax". The Journal of Otolaryngology. 20 (3): 212–5. PMID   1870171.
  4. ↑ Alvord LS, Farmer BL (December 1997). "Anatomy and orientation of the human external ear". Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. 8 (6): 383–90. PMID   9433684.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Guest JF, Greener MJ, Robinson AC, Smith AF (August 2004). "Impacted cerumen: composition, production, epidemiology and management". QJM. 97 (8): 477–88. doi: 10.1093/qjmed/hch082 . PMID   15256605.
  6. 1 2 Yoshiura K, Kinoshita A, Ishida T, Ninokata A, Ishikawa T, Kaname T, et al. (March 2006). "A SNP in the ABCC11 gene is the determinant of human earwax type". Nature Genetics. 38 (3): 324–330. doi:10.1038/ng1733. ISSN   1546-1718. PMID   16444273. S2CID   3201966.
  7. ↑ Nakano, Motoi, Nobutomo Miwa, Akiyoshi Hirano, Koh-ichiro Yoshiura, and Norio Niikawa. "A strong association of axillary osmidrosis with the wet earwax type determined by genotyping of the ABCC11 gene." BMC genetics 10, no. 1 (2009): 42.
  8. ↑ Bass EJ, Jackson JF (September 1977). "Cerumen types in Eskimos". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 47 (2): 209–10. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330470203. PMID   910884.
  9. ↑ "Miscellaneous musings on the Ainu, I". Ahnenkult.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  10. 1 2 Overfield T (1985). Biologic variation in health and illness: race, age, and sex differences . Menlo Park, Calif: Addison-Wesley, Nursing Division. p.  46. ISBN   978-0-201-12810-9. ... most common type in Whites and Blacks is dark brown and moist. Dry wax, most common in Orientals and Native Americans, is gray and dry. It is flaky and may form a thin mass that lies in the ear canal.
  11. ↑ "The science of stinky sweat and earwax". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 April 2015.
  12. ↑ Alberti PW (September 1964). "Epithelial Migration on the Tympanic Membrane". The Journal of Laryngology and Otology. 78 (9): 808–30. doi:10.1017/s0022215100062800. PMID   14205963. S2CID   36358137.
  13. ↑ Harvey DJ (September 1989). "Identification of long-chain fatty acids and alcohols from human cerumen by the use of picolinyl and nicotinate esters". Biomedical & Environmental Mass Spectrometry. 18 (9): 719–23. doi:10.1002/bms.1200180912. PMID   2790258.
  14. ↑ Bortz JT, Wertz PW, Downing DT (November 1990). "Composition of cerumen lipids". Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 23 (5 Pt 1): 845–9. doi:10.1016/0190-9622(90)70301-W. PMID   2254469.
  15. ↑ Nichols AC, Perry ET (September 1956). "Studies on the growth of bacteria in the human ear canal". The Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 27 (3): 165–70. doi: 10.1038/jid.1956.22 . PMID   13367525.
  16. ↑ Chai TJ, Chai TC (October 1980). "Bactericidal activity of cerumen". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 18 (4): 638–41. doi:10.1128/aac.18.4.638. PMC   284062 . PMID   7447422.
  17. ↑ Stone M, Fulghum RS (1984). "Bactericidal activity of wet cerumen". The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology. 93 (2 Pt 1): 183–6. doi:10.1177/000348948409300217. PMID   6370076. S2CID   30717377.
  18. ↑ Megarry S, Pett A, Scarlett A, Teh W, Zeigler E, Canter RJ (August 1988). "The activity against yeasts of human cerumen". The Journal of Laryngology and Otology. 102 (8): 671–2. doi:10.1017/s0022215100106115. PMID   3047287. S2CID   21561514.
  19. ↑ Roland PS, Marple BF (December 1997). "Disorders of the external auditory canal". Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. 8 (6): 367–78. PMID   9433682.
  20. ↑ Campos A, Arias A, Betancor L, Rodríguez C, Hernández AM, López Aguado D, Sierra A (July 1998). "Study of common aerobic flora of human cerumen". The Journal of Laryngology and Otology. 112 (7): 613–6. doi:10.1017/s002221510014126x. PMID   9775288. S2CID   29362695.
  21. ↑ "A to Z: Impacted Cerumen (for Parents) - Nemours". kidshealth.org. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  22. ↑ Yousuf Hussein S, Swanepoel W, Mahomed-Asmail F, de Jager LB (December 2018). "Hearing loss in preschool children from a low income South African community". International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. 115: 145–148. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2018.09.032. hdl: 2263/69076 . PMID   30368375. S2CID   53099935.
  23. ↑ Chou, R.; Dana, T.; Bougatsos, C.; Fleming, C.; Beil, T. (March 2011). "Screening for Hearing Loss in Adults Ages 50 Years and Older: A Review of the Evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force". Evidence Syntheses, No. 83. U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). PMID   21542547 . Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  24. ↑ Oliveira RJ (December 1997). "The active earcanal". Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. 8 (6): 401–10. PMID   9433686.
  25. ↑ Aleccia J (29 August 2018). "The Dangers of Excessive Earwax". Scientific American .
  26. ↑ "Cerumen Impaction | Adult Down Syndrome Center". adscresources.advocatehealth.com. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  27. 1 2 Schwartz SR, Magit AE, Rosenfeld RM, Ballachanda BB, Hackell JM, Krouse HJ, et al. (January 2017). "Clinical Practice Guideline (Update): Earwax (Cerumen Impaction) Executive Summary". Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 156 (1): 14–29. doi: 10.1177/0194599816678832 . PMID   28045632.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 Clegg AJ, Loveman E, Gospodarevskaya E, Harris P, Bird A, Bryant J, et al. (June 2010). "The safety and effectiveness of different methods of earwax removal: a systematic review and economic evaluation". Health Technology Assessment. 14 (28): 1–192. doi: 10.3310/hta14280 . hdl: 10536/DRO/DU:30064293 . PMID   20546687.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sharp JF, Wilson JA, Ross L, Barr-Hamilton RM (December 1990). "Ear wax removal: a survey of current practice". BMJ. 301 (6763): 1251–3. doi:10.1136/bmj.301.6763.1251. PMC   1664378 . PMID   2271824.
  30. 1 2 "Ear wax". Tchain.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  31. ↑ Aaron K, Cooper TE, Warner L, Burton MJ (July 2018). "Ear drops for the removal of ear wax". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 7 (10): CD012171. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012171.pub2. PMC   6492540 . PMID   30043448.
  32. ↑ Fraser JG (October 1970). "The efficacy of wax solvents: in vitro studies and a clinical trial". The Journal of Laryngology and Otology. 84 (10): 1055–64. doi:10.1017/s0022215100072856. PMID   5476901.
  33. 1 2 Wilson PL, Roeser RJ (December 1997). "Cerumen management: professional issues and techniques". Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. 8 (6): 421–30. PMID   9433688.
  34. ↑ Radford JC (2020). "Treatment of impacted ear wax: a case for increased community-based microsuction". BJGP Open. 4 (2): bjgpopen20X101064. doi:10.3399/bjgpopen20X101064. PMC   7330231 . PMID   32238391.
  35. ↑ Cronin T, Zhao F (2020). "Temporary threshold shift following ear canal microsuction". International Journal of Audiology. 59 (9): 713–718. doi:10.1080/14992027.2020.1746977. PMID   32282254. S2CID   215757310.
  36. ↑ Coppin R, Wicke D, Little P (2011). "Randomized trial of bulb syringes for earwax: impact on health service utilization". Annals of Family Medicine. 9 (2): 110–4. doi:10.1370/afm.1229. PMC   3056857 . PMID   21403136.
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 Blake P, Matthews R, Hornibrook J (November 1998). "When not to syringe an ear". The New Zealand Medical Journal. 111 (1077): 422–4. PMID   9861921.
  38. 1 2 Ernst AA, Takakuwa KM, Letner C, Weiss SJ (September 1999). "Warmed versus room temperature saline solution for ear irrigation: a randomized clinical trial". Annals of Emergency Medicine. 34 (3): 347–50. doi:10.1016/S0196-0644(99)70129-0. PMID   10459091.
  39. 1 2 Bull, P. D. (2002). Lecture notes on diseases of the ear, nose, and throat (6th ed.). Oxford: Blackwell Science. pp. 26–27. ISBN   978-0-632-06506-6.
  40. ↑ Evidences Based Cerumen Removal Protocol Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  41. 1 2 Seely DR, Quigley SM, Langman AW (October 1996). "Ear candles--efficacy and safety". The Laryngoscope. 106 (10): 1226–9. doi:10.1097/00005537-199610000-00010. PMID   8849790. S2CID   45885657.
  42. ↑ "Ear Candling: Getting Burned | PeopleHearingBetter". phb.secondsensehearing.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  43. 1 2 "Earwax". entnet.org. American Academy of Otolaryngology. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  44. ↑ Leong AC, Aldren C (August 2005). "A non-randomized comparison of earwax removal with a 'do-it-yourself' ear vacuum kit and a Jobson-Horne probe". Clinical Otolaryngology. 30 (4): 320–3. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2273.2005.01020.x. PMID   16209672. S2CID   21943297.
  45. ↑ Grossan M (July 1998). "Cerumen removal--current challenges". Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal. 77 (7): 541–6, 548. doi:10.1177/014556139807700710. PMID   9693470. S2CID   43201167.
  46. ↑ Joubert K, Botha D (February 2019). "Contributing factors to high prevalence of hearing impairment in the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipal area, South Africa: A rural perspective". The South African Journal of Communication Disorders = die Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Kommunikasieafwykings. 66 (1): e1–e7. doi:10.4102/sajcd.v66i1.611. PMC   6407449 . PMID   30843412.
  47. ↑ Celsus AC, W.G. Spencer translation. "Book VI". De Medicina .
  48. ↑ "acetum et cum eo nitri paulum". Nitri is rendered as "soda" here, i.e. soda ash, though the word can refer to a variety of alkaline substances or to sodium nitrate. (http://www.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/words.exe?nitri http://www.history-science-technology.com/Notes/Notes%208.htm) Note that acidification of sodium carbonate yields sodium bicarbonate.
  49. ↑ "Iberian manuscripts (pigments)". Web.ceu.hu. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  50. ↑ "Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, BOOK XXVIII. REMEDIES DERIVED FROM LIVING CREATURES., CHAP. 8.—REMEDIES DERIVED FROM THE WAX OF THE HUMAN EAR". perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  51. ↑ Schwaab M, Gurr A, Neumann A, Dazert S, Minovi A (August 2011). "Human antimicrobial proteins in ear wax". European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases. 30 (8): 997–1004. doi:10.1007/s10096-011-1185-2. PMID   21298458. S2CID   20731975.
  52. ↑ Child LM (1841). The American Frugal Housewife: Dedicated to Those who are Not Ashamed of Economy. p. 116.
  53. ↑ Beaudry MC (2009). "Bodkin biographies". In White CL (ed.). The Materiality of Individuality. New York, NY: Springer. pp. 95–108.
  54. ↑ Herane-Vives, Andres; Ortega, Lorena; Sandoval, Rodrigo; Young, Allan H.; Cleare, Anthony; Espinoza, Susana; Hayes, Alexander; Benöhr, Jan (November 2020). "Measuring Earwax Cortisol Concentration using a non-stressful sampling method". Heliyon. 6 (11): e05124. Bibcode:2020Heliy...605124H. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05124 . PMC   7644886 . PMID   33195832.

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Ear candling, also called ear coning or thermal-auricular therapy, is a pseudoscientific alternative medicine practice claiming to improve general health and well-being by lighting one end of a hollow candle and placing the other end in the ear canal. Medical research has shown that the practice is both dangerous and ineffective and does not functionally remove earwax or toxicants, despite product design contributing to that impression.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cotton swab</span> Personal care item

Cotton swabs or cotton buds are wads of cotton wrapped around a short rod made of wood, rolled paper, or plastic. They are most commonly used for ear cleaning, although this is not recommended by physicians. Other uses for cotton swabs include first aid, cosmetics application, cleaning, infant care and crafts. Some countries have banned the plastic-stemmed versions in favor of biodegradable alternatives over concerns about marine pollution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earplug</span> Device to protect ears from loud noises

An earplug is a device that is inserted in the ear canal to protect the user's ears from loud noises, intrusion of water, foreign bodies, dust or excessive wind. Since they reduce the sound volume, earplugs may prevent hearing loss and tinnitus, in some causes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conductive hearing loss</span> Medical condition

Conductive hearing loss (CHL) occurs when there is a problem transferring sound waves anywhere along the pathway through the outer ear, tympanic membrane (eardrum), or middle ear (ossicles). If a conductive hearing loss occurs in conjunction with a sensorineural hearing loss, it is referred to as a mixed hearing loss. Depending upon the severity and nature of the conductive loss, this type of hearing impairment can often be treated with surgical intervention or pharmaceuticals to partially or, in some cases, fully restore hearing acuity to within normal range. However, cases of permanent or chronic conductive hearing loss may require other treatment modalities such as hearing aid devices to improve detection of sound and speech perception.

A myringotomy is a surgical procedure in which an incision is created in the eardrum to relieve pressure caused by excessive buildup of fluid, or to drain pus from the middle ear. A tympanostomy tube may be inserted through the eardrum to keep the middle ear aerated for a prolonged time and to prevent reaccumulation of fluid. Without the insertion of a tube, the incision usually heals spontaneously within two to three weeks. Depending on the type, the tube is either naturally extruded in 6 to 12 months or removed during a minor procedure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ear canal</span> Tube running from the outer ear to the middle ear

The ear canal is a pathway running from the outer ear to the middle ear. The adult human ear canal extends from the pinna to the eardrum and is about 2.5 centimetres (1 in) in length and 0.7 centimetres (0.3 in) in diameter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bone-anchored hearing aid</span>

A bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) is a type of hearing aid based on bone conduction. It is primarily suited for people who have conductive hearing losses, unilateral hearing loss, single-sided deafness and people with mixed hearing losses who cannot otherwise wear 'in the ear' or 'behind the ear' hearing aids. They are more expensive than conventional hearing aids, and their placement involves invasive surgery which carries a risk of complications, although when complications do occur, they are usually minor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surfer's ear</span> Common name for an abnormal bone growth within the external ear canal

Surfer's ear is the common name for an exostosis or abnormal bone growth within the ear canal. They are otherwise benign hyperplasias (growths) of the tympanic bone thought to be caused by frequent cold-water exposure. Cases are often asymptomatic. Surfer's ear is not the same as swimmer's ear, although infection can result as a side effect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ear drop</span> Form of medication placed in ears

Ear drops are a form of topical medication for the ears used to treat infection, inflammation, impacted ear wax and local anesthesia. They are commonly used for short-term treatment and can be purchased with or without a prescription. Before using ear drops, refer to the package insert or consult a health professional for the amount of drops to use and the duration of treatment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perforated eardrum</span> Injury leading to a hole in the eardrum

A perforated earhole is a prick in the eardrum. It can be caused by infection, trauma, overpressure, inappropriate ear clearing, and changes in middle ear pressure. An otoscope can be used to view the eardrum to diagnose a perforation. Perforations may heal naturally or require surgery.

Ear picks, also called ear scoops, or ear spoons, or earpicks, are a type of curette used to clean the ear canal of earwax (cerumen). They are preferred and are commonly used in East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia because Asians tend to develop dry ear wax.

Otomycosis is a fungal ear infection, a superficial mycotic infection of the outer ear canal caused by micro-organisms called fungi which are related to yeast and mushrooms. It is more common in tropical or warm countries. The infection may be either subacute or acute and is characterized by itching in the ear, malodorous discharge, inflammation, pruritus, scaling, and severe discomfort or ear pain. The mycosis results in inflammation, superficial epithelial exfoliation, masses of debris containing hyphae, suppuration, and pain. Otomycosis can also cause hearing loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ABCC11</span> Mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens

ATP-binding cassette transporter sub-family C member 11, also MRP8, is a membrane transporter that exports certain molecules from inside a cell. It is a protein that in humans is encoded by gene ABCC11.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earmold</span>

An earmold is a device worn inserted into the ear for sound conduction or hearing protection. Earmolds are anatomically shaped and can be produced in different sizes for general use or specially cast from particular ear forms. Some users specify how hard or soft they want their mold to be, an audiologist can also suggest this. As a conductor, it improves sound transmission to eardrums. This is an essential feature to diminish feedback paths in hearing aids and assure better intelligibility in noisy-environment communication. The main goal in wearing earmolds is to attain better user comfort and efficiency. Earmolds often turn yellow and stiff with age, and thus need replacement on a regular basis. Traditionally, the job of making earmolds is very time-consuming and skillful; each one is made individually in a molding process. However, new digital ear laser scanners can accelerate this process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otitis externa</span> Inflammation of the ear canal

Otitis externa, also called swimmer's ear, is inflammation of the ear canal. It often presents with ear pain, swelling of the ear canal, and occasionally decreased hearing. Typically there is pain with movement of the outer ear. A high fever is typically not present except in severe cases.

Endoscopic ear surgery (EES) is a minimally invasive alternative to traditional ear surgery and is defined as the use of the rigid endoscope, as opposed to a surgical microscope, to visualize the middle and inner ear during otologic surgery. During endoscopic ear surgery the surgeon holds the endoscope in one hand while working in the ear with the other. To allow this kind of single-handed surgery, different surgical instruments have to be used. Endoscopic visualization has improved due to high-definition video imaging and wide-field endoscopy, and being less invasive, EES is gaining importance as an adjunct to microscopic ear surgery.

Granular myringitis is a long term condition in which there is inflammation of the tympanic membrane in the ear and formation of granulation tissue within the tympanic membrane. It is a type of otitis externa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cerumenolytic</span>

A cerumenolytic is an ear wax (cerumen) softening agent. Common cerumenolytics such as hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen peroxide - urea are topical preparations used to facilitate the removal of ear wax. Their side effects tend to be mild, including ear discomfort, transient loss of hearing, dizziness, and local irritation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Dowell</span> Australian audiologist and researcher

Richard Charles Dowell is an Australian audiologist, academic and researcher. He holds the Graeme Clark Chair in Audiology and Speech Science at University of Melbourne. He is a former director of Audiological Services at Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.

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