Premium
Can removal of back teeth contribute to chronic earwax obstruction?
Author(s) -
Fransman Denny
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
british journal of learning disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1468-3156
pISSN - 1354-4187
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3156.2005.00351.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dentistry , population , hearing loss , hearing aid , learning disability , audiology , psychiatry , environmental health
Summary Impacted earwax is extremely common in people with learning disabilities. Although it is not a serious medical condition it causes a number of very unpleasant problems. These symptoms include discomfort in and around the ear, hearing loss, dizziness and noises in the ears. It also causes secondary problems with ear infections and hearing aid use. This paper reviews the clinical symptoms of impacted earwax and investigates possible causality. Evidence shows that people with learning disabilities are twice as likely to have impacted wax than the general population. The reason for this association is unclear. In the present study, the correlation between the occurrence of chronic wax obstruction and a reduced ability to chew due to the absence of back (molar) teeth was investigated. In the current pilot we have used clinical records to establish the presence of chronic wax obstruction and postal questionnaires to ascertain participants’ dental status. The results of this study show a positive relationship between chronic earwax obstruction and the absence of back (molar) teeth. These findings have significant implications and should be considered when planning the health care of people with learning disabilities.