![]() Seniors are predisposed to falls, which are a common cause of serious injury and disability. Dizziness or loss of balance are particularly significant for seniors. Mechanisms in the inner ear send signals to our brain that help keep track of our body’s movements. Our ears play an important role in keeping us balanced. It’s the same way when you clog one ear,” said Josephson. Close one eye and if you walk around enough, you’re going to feel like something’s not right. “Unilateral ear impaction can cause dizziness, usually not vertigo, but it can give you a feeling of imbalance. The immediate health effects from cerumen impaction include loss of hearing in the affected ear and potentially discomfort from pressure buildup and balance issues. Maria Torroella Carney, division chief of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine for Northwell Health in New York, told Healthline.Īlthough some facilities may be attended by ENTs or staff trained in clearing out earwax blockages, it may not be deemed a high priority.Ĭarney notes that when it comes to all the levels of care these facilities provide, from medication to dental care, “earwax can be at the bottom of the list.” The cerumen is much drier than when we were younger, so it gets hard and it creates basically a plug,” Dr. Most people don’t even realize that they have an issue. “Cerumen buildup in older adults is an extremely common issue we see. Over the course of years, the impaction and its subsequent health effects get worse. Personal grooming and self-care can decline in older individuals, which can increase the accumulation of earwax. Seniors, particularly those staying in long-term care facilities, are more likely to have severe cerumen impactions for several reasons.
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