What is impacted cerumen means?
Cerumen impaction is defined as an accumulation of cerumen that causes symptoms or prevents assessment of the ear canal, tympanic membrane, or audiovestibular system; complete obstruction is not required.3 Cerumen impaction is a common reason for consultation with primary care physicians and is present in about 10% of …
What is impacted cerumen removal?
Impacted cerumen removal is the extraction of hardened or accumulated cerumen (ear wax) from the external auditory canal by mechanical means, such as irrigation or debridement.
Why does cerumen impaction occur?
Cerumen is most likely to become impacted when it is pushed against the eardrum by these cotton-typed applicators, hairpins, or other objects that people put down their ear canals, and also by hearing aids. Less common causes of cerumen impaction include overproduction of earwax and an abnormally shaped ear canal.
How do you remove cerumen?
In any instance of cerumen removal, your documentation (including, potentially, a copy of the video otoscope photograph) should clearly describe the reason for the visit, type and location of the cerumen within the canal, whether it is impacted or non-impacted and the removal method(s) utilized.
Is cerumen impaction curable?
Earwax removal by a doctor When excess earwax accumulates, it can be removed by a doctor using a small, curved instrument called a curet. Your doctor can remove excess wax using a small, curved instrument called a curet or by using suction while inspecting the ear.
Where does impacted cerumen occur?
Can a nurse perform removal of impacted cerumen?
When a patient comes in with ear pain due to impacted cerumen, the health-care provider would normally instruct the nurse to perform ear irrigation.
What is the difference between 69209 and 69210?
Code 69210 captures the direct method of impacted earwax removal using curettes, hooks, forceps, and suction. CPT® 69209 Removal impacted cerumen using irrigation/lavage, unilateral reports removal of impacted cerumen (earwax) by irrigation and/or lavage.
How can cerumen impaction be prevented?
Earwax blockage can often be prevented by avoiding the use of cotton-tipped swabs (like Q-tips) and other objects that push the wax deeper into the ear canal.
What is true about impacted cerumen?
Impacted cerumen can cause earaches, temporary hearing loss, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), coughing, or a feeling that the ear is full or plugged. It also can increase the risk of an outer ear infection. Impacted cerumen should be removed by a doctor to help avoid damaging the ear.
Does Medicare pay for removal of impacted cerumen?
Medicare will sometimes cover cleaning if you have a serious buildup of earwax clogging your ears. This is known as an earwax impaction. Medicare will cover the removal of earwax to treat your impaction if the buildup: is causing you pain, pressure in your ears, or trouble hearing.
Who is at risk for cerumen impaction?
Young children, older patients, individuals with a cognitive impairment, and those in nursing homes are at high risk for cerumen impactions. Hearing-aid users are also at increased risk. These patients should be examined carefully for cerumen impaction during routine healthcare encounters.
How to prevent cerumen impaction?
An individual with cerumen impaction should be treated with an appropriate intervention, including one or more of the following: cerumenolytic agents, irrigation, or manual removal requiring instrumentation. Individuals should be discouraged from using ear candling for the treatment or prevention of cerumen impaction.
What causes cerumen impaction?
Anything that affects the normal outward flow of cerumen may cause impaction. The following factors may make it more likely for earwax to become impacted: Advanced age. Conditions that produce too much cerumen, such as keratosis and other skin diseases. Narrow or abnormally shaped ear canals. Use of a hearing aid.
What are the contraindications for cerumen impaction removal?
Indications. Cerumen helps to acidify the ear canal and moisturize the ear canal skin.
How is cerumen impaction diagnosed?
Diagnosis. The diagnosis of cerumen impaction is made by direct visualization with an otoscope.