Ear complaints are common and vary from simple complaints
of excessive earwax (cerumen) or itching to painful ear infections.
Ear disorders affect all ages, with younger patients and patients of
advanced age being the most prone. Otic disorders account for 1.2% of
ambulatory care visits per year.
1 Cerumen impaction can
affect up to 10% of children and more than 30% of
the elderly nursing home population; it is one of the most common
causes of