Ear Wax Removal

At Hear and Clear Care, we’ve undertaken specific training in order to safely and competently perform ear wax removal via microsuction or manual extraction. Microsuction is a safe and gentle method to remove excess ear wax, known medically as cerumen.

Microsuction is our preferred treatment for assisting those who are suffering from a build-up of earwax or earwax impaction. We always encourage people who feel they may have ear wax build up to book in with us for a consultation instead of attempting to remove it themselves; at home ‘remedies’ such as cotton buds may only push the ear wax further into the canal and cause impaction.

What is The Microsuction process

The first step is always a chat. Before we perform any treatment, we need to know about you ear health history, any previous ear problems, surgery or infections, and the symptoms you’re experiencing now (hearing loss, blocked feeling, ringing, pain, itchiness…).

We then take a look at your ear canal and eardrum using an instrument called a Otoscope so we can determine whether microsuction is appropriate in your case.

If we believe it is, we’ll explain the procedure and you’ll have an opportunity to ask questions.

How does Microsuction work?

  1. We have the latest equipment, a video otoscope to take a photo of your ear canal so we can show you the results before and after microsuction wax removal.
  2. A speculum – a funnel-shaped instrument – is gently placed in your ear canal. It gives us a good view of your ear canal so we can see how much wax has built up and how impacted it is. We can also look for any signs of infection, debris or damage.
  3. During the entire procedure, we’ll be wearing a special pair of binocular glasses called an O-Scope, fitted with a bright light. It uses converging 3D lenses to give us a clear view of the ear canal at all times – one reason why microsuction is such a safe and effective treatment.
  4. We then begin the microsuction. A small tube, attached to a low-pressure machine, pulls wax from the ear like a gentle vacuum. It isn’t painful, though you will probably feel a slight tickling sensation.