By Mitchell Batavia, PT, Ph.D.
Cerumen, the medical term for earwax—and as opposed to paraffin wax, as portrayed in this candle cartoon—is actually not wax at all, but rather a mixture of dead skin along with fatty acid and cholesterol glandular secretions that trap dust, particles, and other debris in the ear canal from reaching your sensitive tympanic membrane (eardrum).
In doing so, it protects ears from trauma and infection. This unique mechanism means that the ear is self-cleaning, with the cerumen moving like a conveyor belt, removing the debris laterally and outward toward the opening of the ear canal where it flakes off.
In some individuals, cerumen impaction occurs, whereby the wax obstructs the canal, blocking the tympanic membrane and causing symptoms such as hearing loss. Impaction is more common in young children and older adults, although other risk factors exist—including the practice of inserting foreign objects into the ear, such as cotton swabs.
Impaction is a common condition, with a U.S. prevalence of 18.6 percent for those 12 years or older, a prevalence of 32.4 percent for those 70 years or older, and a worldwide prevalence of up to 30 percent.
Cerumen impaction is a reversible cause of hearing loss, so a visit to your hearing care provider to safely manage it is well worth the trip.
Mitchell Batavia, PT, Ph.D., is an associate professor of physical therapy at New York University. In addition to cartoons and flash fiction, he has published healthcare textbooks with Elsevier and Butterworth-Heinemann.
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Cerumen (earwax) moves like a conveyor belt, removing the debris laterally and outward toward the opening of the ear canal where it flakes off.