Cerumen impaction in the elderly.
1. Cerumen impaction is a reversible cause of conduction hearing loss in the elderly. 2. Risk factors include ear canal hairs, hearing aids, bony growths secondary to osteophyte or osteoma, and a history of impacted cerumen. 3. Cerumen removal can cause damage to the external auditory meatus, perforation of the tympanic membrane, and/or otitis media. 4. Methods to remove cerumen impactions include: ceruminolytic agents, curette methods and lavage method.
Meador
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D000368:Aged; D002571:Cerumen; D004424:Ear Canal; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000451:nursing*