The first thing that comes to mind in this situation is cerumen embolism. Cerumen is a metabolic product secreted by the cerumen glands in the external ear canal, and under normal circumstances, it can drain out of the external ear canal. In some cases, such as narrowing of the external ear canal, it cannot be drained. When it accumulates locally, it forms a large cerumen mass that blocks the external ear canal and is called a cerumen embolism. Although the vast majority of cases are cerumen embolisms, which are large clumps of earwax, another condition that must be noted is cholesteatoma of the external auditory canal. Cholesteatoma and cerumen embolism are sometimes very similar, but instead of being formed by the secretion of the cerumen gland, cholesteatoma is caused by the epithelium of the external ear canal proliferating and shedding in response to certain factors and gathering in the external ear canal, building up layer by layer like an onion skin layer, and then forming a huge mass that blocks the external canal. Cholesteatoma is very destructive to the external ear canal, so we have to actively remove it. The process of removal is very painful, and even requires removal surgery under general anesthesia.