Sensitive or itching ears as the patient commonly describes it, is a
very common disease caused by any atrophic condition of the membranes
of the auditory meati and frequently found in common with auditory or
other cranial nerve deficiency or degeneration. The direct cause of the
irritation is the collection of particles of dry cerumen.
=Treatment.=—The local treatment consists of syringing with warm
(118° to 120°F) soap solution until all of the scaly cerumen has been
removed. The canal is then dried and lubricated as described above.
Several such treatments may be required after which I prefer the use
of the continuous irrigating ear cup, using salt mixture instead of
the soap. The same salt mixture as is recommended for nose and throat
irrigation is satisfactory. After such irrigations the application of
phenol-glycerine (10% phenol in glycerine) seems to be an efficient
treatment.
The local treatment must, of course, be accompanied by corrective
treatment to the mandible and upper cervicals.