Cerumen impaction

After treatment, the clinician should re-examine the patient's ear and document the resolution of the cerumen impaction, and also inspect the previously non-visualised tympanic membrane.

Patients who have a predilection for cerumen impactions should consider regular follow-up visits to their physician for diagnosis and treatment of the impaction. The typical time frame is 6 months, but some patients prefer to wait until they are symptomatic with hearing loss. Patients who wear hearing aids should consider having more regular appointments, because the action of inserting the hearing aid may result in the impaction of previously unimpacted cerumen. In addition, the presence of cerumen on the hearing aid may cause malfunction or damage to the hearing aid.