Your assessment will begin with the Nurse listening to the reason for your appointment – what your concerns or worries are and exploring the difficulties you are currently experiencing. The Nurse will then examine the outer aspect of your ears – the pinna- as well as examining the skin surrounding your ear. Your inner Ear Health will then be assessed using an Otoscope which is a hand held light and magnifying glass to look at the inside of your ear canal – checking for the presence of wax build up and the condition of your ear canal and ear drum (tympanic membrane) Followed by examination using Microscopic Loupes which allows a magnified view of the ear canal. The findings will then be explained to you and treatment options discussed.

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The Nurse will wear a special headset called “Loupes” which are magnified lens with which to examine your ears assisted by a light to shine into your ear canal. The Suction machine has some thick tubing which is then attached to a fine Microsuction tube. A special plastic funnel called a speculum is inserted into the outer aspect of your ear canal for the Microsuction tube to pass through, which then makes contact with the wax and gently removes it. Sometimes the wax is removed in one solid lump and other times it needs some oil to loosen it, which allows the wax to pass through the tubing and be collected in a special cannister. The Microsuction machine is a little noisy and sometime the procedure can be a little uncomfortable for a short time. The Nurse will explain what to expect at each stage and will ask you to keep your head still at all times when the Microsuction is being completed. This is to help protect your ear from any injury which can occur if you move your head suddenly. The Nurse will ask you to indicate if you wish her stop at any stage and she will take regular breaks to re-examine your ear canal to assess the progress of the treatment. Some people experience and instantaneous relief while others require a follow up treatment following application of olive oil if the wax is extremely impacted within the ear canal.

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While Ear Syringing is an outdated practice which is no longer provided due to the risks of perforation of your ear drum, another treatment using water is available. Water Irrigation Treatment is when a special irrigator gently delivers a stream of warm water to the sides of your ear canal – but not directed at your ear drum (tympanic membrane). The streams of water can gently encourage the wax to wash out of the ear canal and into a receiver which you hold underneath your ear. There are some reasons why water irrigation would not be offered as a first line treatment and the Nurse will discuss this with you. Most often, Microsuction is the most effective treatment method, however, if you would prefer to have a Water Irrigation treatment then this can be accommodated. Water Irrigation is the ear wax removal method offered to children under age of 10 based on assessment.

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Foreign bodies and some impacted collections of wax are sometimes best removed from the ear canal using specialised tools which do not involve suction or water. They are specially design to be gently inserted into the ear canal and catch the object which needs removed and coax it out. If the Nurse thinks using some tools would assist in your treatment following your assessment, these will be utilised.

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Fees :

Most patients require only one Appointment to complete their care and treatment but under some clinical conditions you may require more than one appointment in order to meet your specific care needs, this is discussed further at the point of consent.

Fees are charged per Appointment.

Contact us for more information on Ear Health Assessment & Ear Wax Removal Service Fees.

Cancellation:

A cancellation fee is payable if the appointment is cancelled with less than 48 hours notice or if the patients fails to attend for their appointment. A Payment link will be sent electronically for cancellation fee payment. Another appointment will be made available at the patients request, however the full appointment fee may be required at point of booking following a cancellation.

Causeway Clear Ears reserves the right to exercise discretion on all matters relating to failure to attend and repeat appointment payment processes.

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Microsuction does not always need the ears to be prepared in advance with Olive Oil but if you know that wax removal has been troublesome in the past or it has been a long time since your last wax removal then we recommend the application of a medical grade, sterilised olive oil twice a day for a few days before your appointment. Please do not use cooking olive oil as this is not suitable for the ear. The brands used by Causeway Clear Ears are Earol or Cl-ear Olive Oil Spray l and can be purchased in Clinic or from Hendersons Pharmacy Plus, Bushmills Rd Coleraine. We do not recommend Otex as a suitable preparant.

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