What Audiologists Must Know About Cerumen and Cerumen Management

The Legislative Council of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association recently accepted several scope of practice statements, including one concerned with external auditory canal examination and cerumen management by audiologists (Asha, 1992). Now that cerumen management is encompassed within the scope of practice of audiology, audiologists must know about cerumen-its physiology and pathophysiology, its effect on the practice of audiology, and its management. The purpose of this paper is to review the physiology and pathophysiology of cerumen production and to describe a procedure proven safe and effective for managing cerumen.