Comprehensive Hearing Assessment
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Comprehensive
Aftercare
Wax RemovalOver 2 million people need wax removal treatment each year, across all age demographics. It is an important service to offer and is no longer available as a standard treatment on the NHS. As part of our comprehensive hearing service, wax removal of all methods with our fully qualified audiologists is an important cornerstone which sets our service apart.
What is Ear Wax?
Ear Wax, or Cerumen to give it is scientific name, is a combination of oils, debris and dead skin. It is naturally occurring and is there to help protect the ear. With it’s slightly acidic and viscous nature, it captures debris and microorganisms, and it naturally migrates out of the ear. However, sometimes it can accumulate too fast, or it fails to migrate out of the ear. This can lead to a build up of wax, which needs to be removed by a medical professional.
How do you remove Ear Wax?
There are three ways to remove wax. Our fully qualified Audiologists have the skills to do all 3 modalities, giving the patient the best experience.
Microsuction
This is the most common, and most widely advertised method. The Audiologist uses a medical suction machine to remove wax in the ear. It is an effective and efficient technique to remove most wax build ups. Our Audiologists use a special video Endoscope which gives patients a clear before and after view of the procedure.
Irrigation
When wax removal was available through GP surgeries, this was the methodology used. This uses warm water to flush earwax out of the ear. It is highly effective and gives the ear a deeper clean than you typically get with microsuction. It is not suitable for everyone, but our Audiologists commonly use this technique for more stubborn wax or wax that is inaccessible. Offering irrigation is a vital part of our comprehensive service, and most other providers do not offer this service.
Manual removal
Our fully qualified Audiologists manipulate wax out of the ear by hand using specialised tools. This is a very useful technique for certain types of wax, especially when it is nearer the entrance of the ear canal, and this require a high level of expertise and careful manoeuvring.
Sometimes all three techniques are used to remove wax successfully from the ear, and our Audiologist will make personalised clinical judgements for every patient.
Fully Qualified Audiologists
Wax removal is currently unregulated in the UK. This leads to many people with little to no Audiology experience training to remove wax. At Insight, we believe that this is a specialist procedure and therefore, only fully qualified and trained Audiologists perform Wax Removal to ensure the highest clinical and safety standards.
Want to explore how adding a comprehensive Audiology service into your practice can add value to your patients…