It takes about three days to soften a hard cerumen impaction. The cause of cerumen impaction is mainly due to excessive cerumen secretion and discharging obstacles. Foreign bodies entering the ear canal and otitis externa can stimulate the cerumen glands of the ear canal to increase secretion, resulting in excessive accumulation of cerumen in the ear canal to form an embolism. There is also a portion of oily cerumen, and improper ear digging pushes the cerumen mass into the ear canal to form an embolism. Symptoms of cerumen embolism are different depending on the size and location of the cerumen, and may include blockage, stuffiness in the ear, hearing loss, tinnitus and dizziness. Secondary infections can cause pain in the ear canal and even headaches. Cerumen impaction can be diagnosed by otoscopy, and there are yellow, brown and black masses in the ear canal. It can be soft like mud and can be sucked out with a suction device. If there is hard like stone with small mobility, it needs to be softened with 5% sodium bicarbonate, olive oil, mineral oil, usually for three days, after softening, it can be discharged with warm saline rinsing, or suction. Cerumen embolism should be hospitalized, and after softening the cerumen with medication under the guidance of a specialist, the cerumen will be removed by the specialist.