Audiology
What is ear wax?
Ear wax is normal and is produced to form a protective coating over the skin in the ear canal. Ears are normally self-cleaning; the skin and tiny hairs in your ear canal act like a conveyor belt, stretching along your ear canal from your ear drum bringing any wax and debris.
This is helped by the movement of your jaw; when you chew and talk this helps to move the wax along the ear canal, where it will usually fall out naturally without you noticing. Experiencing an earwax blockage is not a serious problem, more a nuisance. Ear syringing or irrigation is no longer routinely recommended as a method for treating earwax, due to the potential risk of complications.
Factors causing ear blockages
You are more likely to develop a blockage of wax in your ear canal if:
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You use cotton buds to clean inside your ears, as this pushes the wax deeper into the ear canal
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You wear a hearing aid, ear plugs or use in-ear speakers for smart phones, as these can all interfere with the natural conveyor belt process of wax expulsion
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You have very narrow ear canals
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You have a particularly hairy ear canal
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You are older, because the earwax you produce is drier and harder
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You have a dry skin problem, such as eczema or psoriasis.
Hearing test with ear examination - £45
Ear Examination - Our ear care practitioners will examine your ear(s) using the digital video otoscope called the Tympa device. This allows examination of the ear canal and eardrum.
Hearing Test - the hearing check involves placing headphones over both ears which will play a variety of sounds at various pitches. The aim of the test is to establish the quietest sounds you can hear and identify any potential haring weakness.
Ear wax removal
Ear wax removal may be necessary to relieve fullness/blocked sensation of the ear, and/or to enable otoscopy and hearing check.
If the wax cannot be fully removed, a second or third appointment may be required with further softening of the wax for a few days between visits using alternative softeners as advised.
Two methods of wax removal may be used during your appointment, microsuction and/or manual removal using an instrument. Your ear care practitioner will choose the most appropriate method.
Cost: - wax removal (1 ear) £60
- wax removal (both ears) £75