Cerumen changes with age: which is correct?

• A. Cerumen thins
• B. Cerumen hardens
• C. Cerumen remains the same
• D. Cerumen increases production

Answer: (B)

As people age, earwax tends to become drier and harder. This happens because the glands that produce cerumen and oil in the ear canal become less active, and the skin in the canal may turnover more slowly. The result is wax that is more compact and brittle, which can lead to impaction and sometimes hearing changes. This is why the statement that cerumen hardens best describes the typical age-related change. It’s not usually thinner or produced in greater amounts, and the consistency doesn’t stay the same—it shifts toward a harder, drier consistency.