Effect of cerumen on infrared ear temperature measurement

This pilot study examined whether the occlusion of one ear canal with cerumen affected the usual temperature difference between the ears as measured with an infrared thermometer. Ear-based temperature measurements were made in 14 elderly nursing home residents before and 3 to 4 days after irrigation to clear cerumen from the occluded ear. The presence of cerumen tended to lower the temperature reading, with a mean change of -0.24 +/- 0.47 degrees F (-0.13 +/- 0.47 degrees C, p = 0.08) and individual differences ranging from -0.9 to 0.4 degrees F (-0.5 to 0.2 degrees C), 43% of subjects (6/14) had values lower by -0.5 degrees F (-0.3 degrees C) or more. The advantage of removing impacted cerumen before making infrared ear temperature measurements may be offset by the time and inconvenience of the irrigation procedure. Improved hearing may be a more important outcome of cerumen removal, with secondary benefit for temperature measurement.