ear suctioning

Ear wax removal

Ear wax is a naturally occurring substance in healthy ears, but it’s quite common for wax to build up in the ear canal and can impair hearing.
Sometimes you may not even know you have a wax build up, or you may have a feeling of fullness in your ears, or you may have difficulty hearing. Some people build up wax very quickly and require regular wax removal. If you have a build up of wax that you would like to be removed our nurses able to perform ear suctioning. It is important to have you ears checked by the doctor first to rule out other issues. Your doctor may diagnose excess earwax by inserting an instrument called an otoscope into the opening of your ear. The otoscope shines a light into your ear and magnifies the image.

Ear suctioning process

We recommend putting oil (olive oil works well) or wax softening drops (Waxsol can be purchased form the pharmacy) into your ears for a couple of days prior to having the syringing completed, this softens any wax and assists with removal. 

If wax build-up is the issue, one of our nurses (trained in the technique of micro suction of ear wax removal) will demonstrate how the equipment works and what you will experience during the procedure.

It may be noisy, with squeaking and ‘wind tunnel’ sounds, but this only lasts a short period of time.

Ear micro suction is not always successful in one appointment and follow up sessions may be necessary. Please call and ask to speak with a nurse prior to booking an appointment for children.

Personal care

We strongly recommend that you do not use cotton tips to clean your ears. Cotton tips can push wax further into the ear canal where it can get stuck. They can also scratch the delicate lining of the ear canal. The best way to clean your ears is to wash the outside of the ear with a flannel. For most people, leaving your ears alone is the best way to keep them clean. The skin inside your ear canals is like a conveyor belt moving from the inside of your ear to the outside, with the wax sweeping up the dust and debris.