We offer in-clinic appointments at our Sowerby Bridge or Hebden Bridge locations. In 2024, we decided to simplify our prices and now offer a reduced price for ear wax removal for a set rate of £55. This price covers wax removal from one or both ears, the use of a video otoscopy, a hearing health check, and additional appointments if necessary, GP letters can be written for onward referral to the Ear, Nose, and Throat or Audiology.
If you can’t leave the house, try our home service at £75, which is the same price since we started in 2020.
Do you need regular checkups?
Introducing our Ear Care Club
Take charge of your ear health with our exclusive Ear Care Club.
For £13 a month, you’ll benefit from:
- Up to 4 clinic visits a year with an Audiologist
- Regular check-ups to keep your ears healthy
- Twice yearly complimentary Olive oil spray
- Annual hearing assessment
Peace of mind knowing your ear is healthy is in expert hands
Join today and save up to £119 per year
Scan the QR code to start your journey
Check your clinical medical history
We ask specific questions to ensure your audiologist knows of any health issues or concerns relating to your ear and hearing. This information allows us to adjust and select the most appropriate procedure for you.
Discussion of risks
We are all about giving informed consent; a large part is being fully informed of any risks involved. Our audiologist will happily discuss and answer any of your questions regarding the procedures.
Consent form to be signed
A consent form will be provided and explained. You have complete control and know what will happen during the appointment. We use an online digital form that you can sign during the appointment.
Clean and sterilised equipment
All the equipment will be cleaned clinically between appointments, and any single-use items will be disposed of within your household waste. We do not reuse single use items.
Use of single-use equipment within the home.
The waste produced from these procedures is considered offensive waste, not clinical. Therefore, using your waste facilities for single-use equipment disposal is safe, the clinician will ensure the waste is wrapped up for safe disposal.
All aftercare explained
Any aftercare will be fully explained by your audiologist, as well as any questions you may have about ongoing care, we have a leaflet which summarises which you can keep and refer back to.
All questions answered, and procedures fully explained.
Your audiologist will explain the procedures fully, giving you a clear understanding of what will happen and what to expect. They will provide complete clinical information and well throughout answers.
Water irrigation:- is similar to syringing in the essence that it uses water. However, syringing is an older method which is now considered unsafe. A newer alternative is water irrigation, which directs body-temperature water through a tip angled away from your eardrum to flush out the ear wax gently.
Microsuction:- This is a modern alternative to using water. It uses a gentle suction, like a small Hoover in your ear. Many services call this the gold standard and preferred wax removal option. It is considered a better form of wax removal as it reduces the risk of infections, yet this depends on the consistency, depth and a patient’s anatomy. It is more technical and requires a steady hand as we work within a tight space, so it isn’t the best for every situation and every patient.
If you require frequent treatment, then micro-suction is more appropriate for you. The procedure is best suited for people who have had ear surgery, a history of eardrum perforations or ear infections or a great dislike of water irrigation.
Manual wax removal: – We use tools such as Jobson horn, St Barts hook and micro crocodile forceps to safely remove the wax without suction or water. Depending on the location and complexity of the wax removal, these are used and essentially roll, hook and grab the ear wax from within the ear canal. They are only used if the clinician can see what they are doing and if they feel they can proceed safely.
All of the above techniques are safe and effective ear wax techniques. Knowledge and experience of all methods allow the clinician to discuss all options regarding your care having access to all of these procedures allows us complete patient-centred care, whilst offering the best practice with aural care.
As with any clinical procedure, there are risks. As a healthcare professional focusing on patient-centred care, I will inform you of these risks and how to I work to reduce them.
The most considerable risk involved is not being able to remove the wax on the first appointment. You can minimise this by using wax softening drops, ideally olive oil, twice daily in the affected ear for 3-5 days before treatment. We work very hard to remove the wax the first time and have a high success rate as we can use more than one technique if required. Yet, if we are unsuccessful, we will re-book you at your convenience and at no additional cost.
There is a much smaller risk of infection. However, we reduce this risk by using single-use equipment, thorough hygiene practices, and give you aftercare advice to keep you safer.
A significantly smaller risk is the risk of trauma to the eardrum or ear canal; this is very unlikely as we minimise this risk by completing procedures to a high level of clinical safety. This risk is reduced as your healthcare professional has a decade of experience working as an audiologist and is now a clinical trainer for ear wax removal. With this comes experience and the clinical knowledge of when it’s safe to proceed or when it’s best to stop.
People often experience tinnitus when their wax blockage affects their hearing; removing the wax will help reduce/stop tinnitus. Yet depending upon the severity of the tinnitus, micro-suction has been known to make tinnitus worse hence why we can complete other safe and effective wax removal techniques. Often tinnitus intensity can increase due to anxiety about the procedures so I always give you full control and aim to put you at ease.
The procedure can generate a suction sound of about 68dB SPL, equivalent to someone talking loudly. The noise is safe but we can help reduce the impact of this sound by giving you small sound breaks during the procedure.
It is the professionalism of a healthcare provider to understand the limitations of their scope of practice. Therefore, having a HCPC and RCCP registered Audiologist doing your wax removal allows you some additional peace of mind.
Benefits of wax removal
- Reduced tinnitus
- Reduced earaches and itchiness of ears
- Better hearing with your nearest and dearest
- Feeling connected again to your world
Ask Us a Question
Ear Wax Facts
20% of adults will have ear wax issues; this increases the older we become to 65% of over 65-year-olds.
Wax is our body’s way of cleaning our ears, so no poking anything in your ears like a cotton bud; a wet cloth to wipe around your outer ear or pinna is advised, but nothing into the ear canal.
Ear wax protects the skin of our ear canals and against bacteria, fungi, and water.
