Final answer:
The best treatment for a patient with muffled sounds in the ear due to cerumen buildup is to gently spray mineral oil into the affected ear, which helps soften and remove the earwax.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient reporting muffled sounds in the left ear and found to have a significant amount of cerumen upon examination would likely benefit from a treatment option designed to help soften and remove the earwax buildup. In this case, the best treatment option is gently spraying mineral oil in the ear (option b). Mineral oil is an effective cerumenolytic agent that can soften the earwax and facilitate its natural expulsion from the ear canal. Other methods, such as using saline solution, tap water, or carbamide peroxide, may also be used, but the efficacy and safety profiles might differ.
It is crucial to avoid aggressive methods of cerumen removal, as these can damage the ear's delicate tissues. Options such as carbamide peroxide might be effective, but they should be used cautiously and sometimes under professional guidance. The ultimate goal is to restore clear hearing without causing additional harm to the ear's structures.