Steven Flegal, age 11, of Huntsville, Ala., for his question:

WHY DO WE GET WAX IN OUR EARS?

Earwax, known medically as cerumen, is secreted from glands in the external passage of the ear. Along with hairs that grow in the passages, earwax helps keep foreign particles from going into the ears. When it is first secreted, earwax is pasty. It later dries and old wax usually falls out of the ear during sleep.

Sometimes earwax accumulates into solid masses which can block the ear passages. Andy's doctor says you should never put anything smaller than your elbow into your ear. Trying to clean out the ears with small objects is bad, although the wet corner of a washcloth can sometimes do the trick, and it is safe. See your doctor if the blockage is too hard and there is pain in your ear.