Skip to content
Ear Microsuction at HTC
Ear Wax Removal with Ultra-Modern TympaHealth System
Hempstead Therapy Centre are pleased to be offering an ear microsuction service.
The demand for ear and hearing healthcare in the UK is growing rapidly due to an aging population, exposure to loud noises, increasing use of headphones and incorrect cleaning of ears using cotton buds.
Unfortunately, the waiting times for treatment are increasing all the time and many GP surgeries have now stopped offering a wax removal service at their practices. This can have a significant impact on health and wellbeing.
Why hearing health matters
Good ear and hearing health is important to people of all ages. For younger people, hearing loss can affect their education and social life. For older people, it can lead to social isolation, dementia and an increased risk of falls.
Signs and symptoms to look out for
- Loss of hearing
- Earache
- Discomfort
- Discharge
- Ears feeling full
- Ringing
- Itching
- Loss of balance
- Dizziness
- Coughing
- Turning up the volume
- Moving closer to those talking
- Asking people to repeat themselves
- Concentrating harder than normal to listen
Advice for you before your ear microsuction appointment
You will be advised to soften the wax with appropriate drops before your appointment, we recommend that you do this for five days before your appointment – please do not use Otex as this is not healthy for your ears. If you are hearing aid user it may be advisable to avoid the wearing the hearing instrument following the application of drops so overnight application of the softener would be best
What happens during your ear microsuction appointment
Prior to commencing the procedure, the benefits of removing the wax will be discussed with you. In order to check that it is safe to proceed you will be asked some questions about the health of your ears and your general health. It will also be necessary to carry out a detailed visual examination of your ear/s and the wax present. If it is safe to do so, and clinically necessary, wax will be removed using microsuction. Microscution can be noisy but you will be introduced to the system prior to its use and given the chance to ask any questions.
During the micro suction images and videos of your ear/s will be recorded and these may be used for the following reasons:
- To request further advice or a second opinion from another suitably qualified medical professional
- Training and research
- To ensure you, the patient, are as informed as possible
Depending on the amount and consistency of the wax, it may not be possible to remove all of the wax during your initial appointment, if this is the case you will be asked to rebook and to carry on using eardrops. If you have any questions about your ear microsuction appointment please get in contact.
Onward referral
In some situations, wax removal may be deemed unsuitable or need to be stopped, most commonly this is due to abnormalities of the ear being identified which require further assessment by your GP or ENT specialist. As we are working with TympaHealth to provide this service we are able to refer you to their medical professionals for advice and/or a second opinion. Most commonly this is because:
- Evidence of current or recent infection has been discovered
- Evidence of current or previous damage to the ear has been discovered
- The wax removal process has made you feel unwell
- The wax has proven to be too difficult to remove safely or without causing discomfort
- A foreign body has been discovered in the ear which cannot be removed safely
After care following your ear microsuction
Following your ear microsuction appointment please keep your ears dry for a minimum of 24 hours, it can be helpful to use a cotton wool ball in the entrance to the ear canal with some petroleum jelly when showering.
Microsuctioning is a safe way of ear wax removal and only the best-practice procedures will be used however with any procedure there are some risks involved in wax removal. Although uncommon it is possible that you could experience discomfort, temporary aggravation of existing tinnitus, temporary hearing sensitivity. All of this will be discussed thoroughly with you at your appointment.
