title: Does Hearing Aid Use Increase the Likelihood of Cerumen Impaction?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Impacted cerumen is a common condition in adults. It is commonly believed that wearing hearing aids may increase the cerumen impaction, although no empirical evidence exist. The current study was aimed at studying if the use of hearing aids increase the likelihood of impaction of cerumen.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used retrospective design. The study sample included 164 consecutive patients who were referred to cerumen clinic from Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Wales. Audiologist classified the cerumen impaction into four categories (i.e., no cerumen; non-occluding cerumen; occluding cerumen; and fully non-occluding cerumen and debris). Chi-square analysis was performed to study the association between hearing aid use and cerumen impaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The current study results showed no association between hearing aid use and cerumen impaction. Also, there was no association between right/left ear and cerumen impaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results interesting and contrary to our assumption that hearing aid use increases the likelihood of cerumen impaction. More well-controlled studies with prospective designs are needed to confirm if these results are accurate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, USA.; The Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.; Audiology India, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Vinaya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Manchaiah
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology, Cwm Taf University Health Board, Llantrisant, United Kingdom.; School of Health and Human Sciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arthur
authors.affiliation: ENT, Cwm Taf University Health Board, Llantrisant, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Huw
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Williams
keywords: Ear wax; Hearing aids; Hearing loss; Impacted cerumen