The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) states that cerumen removal requires mechanical manipulation of the external auditory canal and such manipulation may result in traumatic and/or inflammatory lesions to the external auditory canal, tympanic membrane, and/or middle ear conduction mechanism.
The AAO-HNS also states that mechanical manipulation of the external auditory canal in an effort to remove cerumen should only be performed by or under the supervision of a qualified physician (MD or DO).
Adopted 3/12/1994
Submitted for Review 4/13/1995
Reaffirmed 3/1/1998
Reaffirmed 12/8/2012
Revised 3/20/2016
Important Disclaimer Notice (Updated 7/31/14)
Position statements are approved by the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery or Foundation (AAO-HNS/F) Boards of Directors and are typically generated from AAO-HNS/F committees. Once approved by the Academy or Foundation Board of Directors, they become official position statements and are added to the existing position statement library. In no sense do they represent a standard of care. The applicability of position statements, as guidance for a procedure, must be determined by the responsible physician in light of all the circumstances presented by the individual patient. Adherence to these clinical position statements will not ensure successful treatment in every situation. As with all AAO-HNS/F guidance, this position statement should not be deemed inclusive of all proper treatment decisions or methods of care, nor exclusive of other treatment decisions or methods of care reasonably directed to obtaining the same results. Position statements are not intended to and should not be treated as legal, medical, or business advice.
