common ear wax removal Questions

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Ear wax removal FAQs - Here are some common questions regarding ear wax removal and ear cleaning.

If you have a question not covered here, please let us know.

Unlike irrigation it is not necessary to use ear drops for weeks prior to the appointment. 

If you think you have hard impacted wax, you can put a small amount of Olive Oil spray (such as Earol) into your ears 1 or 2 days before your appointment.

Please do not use types of drops that "dissolve" the wax, such as Otex.  In our experience these drops tend to spread the wax around the ear canal rather than removing.  This makes you feel more blocked and it is harder to remove.  In some icases long term use of these drops can irritate the ears.

To start with, your ears will be viewed using a small camera so we can see accurately where your wax is and to what degree.

A small tube connected to a gentle vacuum pump is placed into your ear and the wax is either sucked up the tube or moved out of your ear.

No.  Most people comment that Microsuction ear wax removal is a strange sensation rather than uncomfortable.  You will hear some “wind” rushing and whistling and sometimes feel some tugging in your ear as the wax moves out towards the entrance.

Depending how long the wax has been in your ears, they may feel slightly sore for a day or two post procedure but this will soon clear.

The Microsuction ear wax removal procedure is the safest and most efficient method of removing troublesome ear wax.  

No water is introduced into the ear - this means less stress is put on the ear canal and eardrum, it is a safe procedure if you have had past infections, perforations etc.

The ear canal and wax can be viewed in high magnification using a clinical ENT Microscope during the procedure for greater accuracy and safety.  Unlike the irrigation procedure where you do not view the ear during the procedure.

The procedure generally leaves the ear very clear of wax, irrigation often leaves wax and water behind, so microsuction means greater gaps between treatments.

At mi EARS we have taken the decision to only use high end medical equipment in our clinic room. This includes:

• Medical Suction device - We use the Hospivac 400 system which is a clinic based device rather than a portable system others use.  This has a quieter operating noise but with an increased level of suction. This means that stubborn blockages can be removed more efficiently.

• Microscope - Ear wax removal is carried out using some form of magnification so that wax is safely removed from the ear canal.  There are various systems available for clinicians to use such as head loupes and endoscopes.   We use a clinical Microscope and this gives us the benefit of the best available magnification and depth perception. This allows the removal safely of debris deep in the ear canal even up to the ear drum.

 Depends.  If there is only a slight amount of earwax in the canal then using ear drops alone may shift this. 

If your ear canal is totally blocked with wax, ear drops alone are very unlikely to resolve this.  The ear wax is like a plug and sometimes can go quite deep along the canal, the ear drops will only soak the surface but will not penetrate further in.

There are some ear drops that claim to dissolve the wax.  Again, this can work for small amounts of wax.  Sometimes these drops have the effect of “smearing” the wax all over the ear canal and even the ear drum, which makes removal even harder.  Most of these types of ear drops should not be used for long periods so follow the instructions carefully.

Please do not use any devices or tools that can be purchased to either flush out or pull out your ear wax by yourself at home.  As you cannot see what is happening in your own ear and how deep these tools go, it is very easy to push the wax further in and risk damaging your ear canal or ear drum.  

Please first seek the advice of a Healthcare professional who can view your ears safety and give you the appropriate advice.

There are different professionals that offer ear wax removal or cleaning treatments, such as Nurses, Beauty Therapists etc.

The difference is that an Audiologist specialises in ears and hearing.

The majority of times when you feel your ears are blocked it is due to wax but there are other causes of hearing loss or ear discomfort, most minor and others more serious.

At mi Ears Audiology we will not only be able to examine your ears and remove any blockage but also perform any relevant tests and give you the most appropriate advice.