Hello and welcome to the zero to finals podcast.

My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to be talking to you about earwax.

And you can find written notes on this topic at zero to finals.com slash earwax

or in the ear nose and throat section of the zero definals surgery book. So let's get straight

into it. Earwax is also called serumen. It's normally produced in small amounts in the

external ear. It's created from a combination of secretions, dead skin cells and any substances that enter the ear.

Earwax has a protective effect helping to prevent infection in the ear canal.

In most people, earwax does not cause any problems.

Let's talk about impacted earwax.

Earwax can build up and become impacted and stuck to the tympanic membrane or the eardrum.

This can result in conductive hearing loss because sound cannot travel into the inner ear,

discomfort in the ear, a feeling of fullness in the ear, pain or discomfort, and tinnitus,

which is a ringing or added sound in the ear. Earwax can be seen on examination with an otoscope.

It may completely cover the tympanic membrane, preventing assessment of the tympanic membrane

and the inner ear.

Let's talk about management.

In most cases, ear wax does not require any interventions.

The ears should naturally regulate the amount of wax in the ear canal without any issues.

Inserting cotton buds into the ear should be avoided as this can press the wax further in and cause impaction.

There are three main methods for removing ear wax. The first is ear drops, usually with olive oil or sodium bicarbonate 5%.

The second option is ear irrigation and this involves squirting water into the ear in a controlled

environment in order to clean away the wax. And the third is micro-suction, which is where a tiny

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