What's an Impacted Ear?

Impacted cerumen (se-ROO-men) is when earwax (cerumen) builds up in the ear and blocks the ear canal; it can cause temporary hearing loss and ear pain.

How do you remove impacted ear wax?

Your doctor can remove excess wax using a small, curved instrument called a curet or by using suction while inspecting the ear. Your doctor can also flush out the wax using a water pick or a rubber-bulb syringe filled with warm water.

Does an impacted ear go away?

If you have symptoms of impacted earwax, your provider will likely advise some kind of treatment. If you don't have any symptoms, your provider likely won't advise treatment, unless you need an ear exam for other reasons. Often the earwax goes away on its own with time.