Microsuction of the ears

Posted on Friday, December 05, 2014

As part of our Tuesday and Friday Audiology clinics we offer microsuction to remove excess wax build up. In this article we will explain in brief what earwax is, the problems it can cause and how the microsuction procedure works.

Earwax is a protective substance secreted in the ear canal, it is yellow/orange in colour and protects the sensitive skin of our ear canal, lubricating and cleaning out anything from bacteria to insects.

Now for the icky part! Earwax is made of shed skin cells, hair and secretions of glands in the outer ear canal. Producing all of this earwax can sometimes cause major problems for our hearing if there is too much of it or it becomes compacted. Earwax build-up is the main cause of conductive hearing loss and it is also the cause of around 70% of hearing aid faults.

Conductive hearing loss is when something blocks sound waves anywhere along the outer ear canal, eardrum or middle ear canal. Conductive hearing loss can also cause imbalance. There are a number of things that can block the ear canal, a few of these are:-

• Infection of the ear canal or middle ear.
• Fluid in the middle ear.
• Damage to the eardrum.
• Growths or tumours in the ear.
• Earwax build-up

If you find yourself thinking that you can’t hear as well as you used to or find people are talking too quietly it may well be worth coming in to see us for a consultation, if we can’t find any wax we can point you in the right direction of what to do next. If we do find wax we can remove it there and then without any pre-treatment and here’s how!

Here at C.E.Hall Optometrists our fully qualified audiologists Paul Lucas and Vincent Howard can remove excess earwax via microsuction.

Microsuction is a safe, effective way of removing earwax. A microscope is used to look straight down the ear canal and locate the troublesome wax, and then a small sterile suction device is used to very gently suck out the wax and as quickly as that the process is done!

Another more heard of method of wax removal is “syringing”, however microsuction proves a much better method for the following reasons:-

• It is safer because the audiologists can see what they are doing so it is far more precise.
• The process of microsuction is quicker (ususally 30 minutes including consultation).
• Microsuction is generally more comfortable.
• No pre-treatment is required for microsuction.
• Far more effective!

So there you have it, a simple solution to a pesky problem. For more information on how to book and costings please visit our audiology page by clicking the link below.

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