Sometimes ear wax can block the ears. A number of factors can cause excessive ear wax to build up. These include exposure to dusty environments, narrow ear canals, improper cleaning of the ear canal (using cotton buds!) and the regular wearing of earphones or hearing aids.
This wax build up can contribute to hearing loss, increase the effects of tinnitus and can even lead to pain in and around the ear canal. Read more in our blog on ear wax.

We refer to earwax being impacted when it builds up to the point where a blockage occurs. This means the ear wax won’t naturally move out of the ear canal and is impacting you in some way.

When ear wax becomes impacted, you may experience a feeling of fullness in the ears and/or itchy ears, as well as difficulty hearing. You may also develop ringing in the ears. The ringing is usually called tinnitus. This is usually temporary and typically goes away following ear wax removal. 
Many people first notice a problem with ear wax following a bath or after swimming. This is due to a significant amount of earwax getting wet and expanding, typically blocking the ear.

If you know you have a build-up of ear wax, then using, for example, olive oil drops prior to your visit, can soften the wax and make the process of removing it easier. It usually doesn’t get rid of the wax.  Don’t use anything stronger than olive oil, if you are not sure that ear wax is a problem, as this may irritate your ears.

Microsuction involves using a magnifying device to allow clear vision of the ears alongside a fine suction tube which carefully suctions the wax from the ear canal. It can be performed in children as well as adults.
Micro suction is usually a totally painless procedure. Sometimes there can be some mild discomfort, due to the wax being attached to the skin, however our appointments are a minimum of 45 minutes, so we have plenty of time to assess your ears and proceed with care.
If necessary, small tools can be used to dislodge stubborn ear wax.

In the past, ear syringing, using water, was the most common method of removing wax. Ear syringing has been replaced with ear irrigation, which still uses water but with a more controlled approach. 
Ear irrigation works by pulsing water into the ear canal, which stimulates wax removal. The flow rate of the water can be carefully controlled to allow gentle cleaning of earwax. 
Occasionally, irrigation is much quicker and safer than micro-suction.

Our Clinical Director, Paul, has extensive experience working with babies and young children. Ear wax can successfully be removed from children’s ears, often using a variety of techniques.

Many people try ear cleaning techniques at home. Often using cotton buds (Q-tips). Unfortunately, using cotton buds in your ear canals will often push the ear wax deeper and can also damage the eardrum. 
Ear wax removal should only be performed under the guidance of a fully qualified professional clinical audiologist, medical doctor, or other appropriately trained practitioners.
Although most people don’t realise it, excessive ear wax is one of the biggest causes of poor hearing and can also lead to a whole host of health problems. Ear cleaning should be left to trained professionals, as home techniques can often make the problem worse.