Ear wax is a build up of cerumen, sebum, dead cells, sweat, hair and foreign material, e.g. dust. Ear wax is a normal physiological substance that protects the ear canal. The quantity produced varies greatly between individuals. Ear wax may be either wet or dry. Wet wax is either soft (more common in children) or hard (more common in the elderly). Dry wax is dry, flaky, and golden-yellow, and is common in people from Asia.
Ear wax is common in:
- Elderly
- Hearing aid users
- People who use cotton buds
- Small or anatomically different ear canals
In the majority of cases, earwax falls out on its own without the need to remove it. However, if earwax is totally blocking your ear, or if any of the following symptoms are present, it will need to be removed:
- Hearing loss,
- Earache,
- Tinnitus (noises in your ear that come from an internal source),
- Vertigo (the feeling that you are moving while you are still),
- Cough.
- Feedback (whistling noise wearing hearing aids)
- Itchiness
- There may be a history of exposure to water (causes expansion of the ear wax and may cause complete blockage of the ear canal)
Ear Wax Removal London
Ear wax also needs to be removed before make an impression of the ear canal for a hearing aid mould. A poor impression will make the hearing aid uncomfortable or the ear wax can cause the hearing aid to whistle.
Diagnostic Hearing test is highly recommended to record hearing thresholds levels, in particular if you present with a hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo, as it will identify middle ear or inner ear conditions such as Glue Ear or Meniere’s disease.
Prices:
Microsuction for one or both ears £75
Pure tone Audiometry £80 ( £40 with microsuction)
Tympanometry £40 ( £20 with micosuction)
(Tympanometry is a test of middle ear function and Integrity of ear drum)
Weekend appt available at additional cost.
