FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS MUNRO HEARING SOLUTIONS DOING TO PROTECT ME FROM CORONAVIRUS /COVID-19?
Munro Hearing Solutions continues to work in line with current guidance. Please contact me ahead of your appointment if you have any concerns or special requests.
HOW DO I KNOW I AM IN SAFE HANDS?
Ear wax removal is not currently regulated, so please check the credentials of your Audiologist. You can check both the HCPC (Health & Care Professions Council) and AHCS (The Academy for Healthcare Science) register online. Your Audiologist should be registered with at least one of these regulatory bodies and they should be fully insured. Your Audiologist may also be PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) checked. Also, it goes without saying that a few years of relevant experience in Clinical Audiology is essential.
WHAT IS EAR WAX REMOVAL BY MICRO SUCTION?
Micro suction is a very effective technique to remove ear wax using a narrow suction tube where the wax is safely removed by low pressure suction. The audiologist uses specialised loupes (magnification glasses) to provide a clear magnified view of the ear wax and ear canal. micro suction does not use water, which makes it a safe method of ear wax removal even on known perforations. Click here for some images of ear wax removal by micro suction.
IS EAR WAX REMOVAL BY MICRO SUCTION SAFE?
Ear wax removal by micro suction is widely considered the safest method of ear wax removal. It is considered safer than ear syringing or irrigation, which carries a small risk of perforating the delicate eardrum due to the water pressure. The eardrum is only made up of thin layers of skin. Syringing or irrigation is not recommended for patients who have a perforated eardrum due to the complications caused when water manages to travel through the eardrum and into the middle ear. These risks are reduced when removing ear wax professionally with micro suction.
IS EAR WAX REMOVAL BY MICRO SUCTION PAINFUL?
Occasionally you will experience a gentle pulling sensation especially if the ear wax is impacted. Rarely, if a very hard impacted piece of wax is removed, it can take a small piece of skin with it and there may be a graze left in the ear canal. This may result in a small amount of bleeding. This will usually heal uneventfully.
IS EAR WAX REMOVAL BY MICRO SUCTION LOUD?
If you have a hearing impairment due to ear wax build up then the micro suction will not appear loud at all, but near the end of the ear wax removal procedure, as more and more of the excess ear wax is removed, the micro suction will become louder for a short period of time.
DO I HAVE TO SOFTEN THE WAX PRIOR TO TREATMENT WITH MICRO SUCTION?
It is not always necessary, but better results may be achieved with hard ear wax if you are able to use an ear wax softener such as olive or almond oil for a couple of days prior to your appointment.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
Ear wax removal usually takes around 15 - 20 minutes.
The whole appointment may take around 30 minutes, including risk assessment / consent form.
HOW OFTEN CAN I HAVE MICRO SUCTION FOR EAR WAX?
As micro suction is more gentle than ear syringing, it can be carried out as often as required. Some people find that the best way to unblock their ears is to have them micro suctioned regularly, so they may want to do this up to 3 or 4 times per year.
WHICH METHOD OF EAR WAX REMOVAL WILL YOU CHOOSE?
Which method we choose is dependant on the ear wax itself. Micro suction is the preferred method, but if your wax is too soft or too deep, we will choose irrigation instead. Ear irrigation is similar to ear syringing where small jets of water gently wash the wax away.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR ME TO RECEIVE MY CUSTOM EAR PLUGS?
Under normal circumstances, you will receive your custom ear plugs in around 4 weeks. All custom ear plugs are payable in advance and are non returnable once processed. All faults will be rectified.