Ceruminosis is an excessive accumulation of hard wax in the ear. Cerumen is the medical term for earwax. The earwax can form a plug that blocks sound to the inner ear. This blockage can cause conductive hearing loss. However, the hearing loss should be restored once the plug of earwax is removed. Ceruminosis can affect one or both ears.

Ceruminosis should be diagnosed by a physician since other ear problems can seem like earwax buildup. The doctor will examine the ears and diagnose the cause of the clogged ear. If the clogged ear is caused by ceruminosis, the physician or nurse will remove the plug of hard earwax. A doctor may use a thin instrument to guide earwax out of the ear.

People should avoid using cotton swabs to remove earwax build-up since it may make the condition worse by pushing the wax deeper into the ear canal. The best method of earwax removal for people to use on themselves is an earwax removal kit. These typically use a syringe that is filled with warm water to flush out the wax.

Some people are more prone to developing ceruminosis. If the person experiences hearing loss or muffled hearing, the ear should be checked by a physician for proper diagnosis. The physician may suggest routine use of an earwax removal kit or follow up visits when the symptoms occur again.

The patient may want to ask how episodes of muffled hearing with the suspected cause of earwax build-up should be handled in the future. The physician may suggest using an earwax removal kit first, then consulting the doctor if it fails to restore hearing. Earwax removal kits are sold in drugstores and large retail stores.

Sometimes, mineral oil or baby oil is used as remedies to soften hard accumulations of earwax to make the earwax easier to remove. The individual should consult a physician before using these or other products to soften and remove earwax. In most cases, warm water is all that is needed to remove the earwax build-up. No objects should ever be put in the ear to try to scrape earwax out of the ear.