Clinical Services
Causeway Clear Ears offers both Clinic based appointments and Home Visits. We provide a wide range of services at our main clinic, pop-up clinics or on our home or workplace visits.
Clinical Services
Causeway Clear Ears offers both Clinic based appointments and Home Visits. We provide a wide range of services at our main clinic, pop-up clinics or on our home or workplace visits.
Our Range of Services
EAR HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Your appointment 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.
A full Clinical Assessment will then be undertaking including asking some details about potentially relevant medical history such as other conditions you may have or any medication you are currently taking.
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 a variety of magnified cameras – checking for the presence of wax, the condition of your ear canal and ear drum and assessing for other ear conditions within the ear canal or behind the ear drum. The findings will then be explained to you and treatment options discussed.
Following completion of wax removal the Nurse will complete an Ear Health Assessment looking at the Health of your Ear Canal and the structure of the Ear Drum and will provide advice, education or treatment recommendations with referrals depending on what your Ear Health needs are.
If required or appropriate to do so, the Nurse will complete a tuning fork test to determine if there is any evidence of hearing loss and if so what type and will signpost you to next steps for a hearing test known as Audiometry.
MICROSUCTION EAR WAX REMOVAL
Ear Syringing is now an outdated method of ear wax removal which has now been replaced with Microsuction. 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 leaves in smaller pieces or more of a liquified substances which passes into the cannister.
Microsuction delivers 120 decibels of sound into the ear and for some people this may feel loud – if you have any noise sensitivities this will be discussed with you and additional measures taken if possible to decrease the noise impact. The procedure can be a little uncomfortable for a short time. Pain is usually only present if there is an underlying ear infection.
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 specialist instruments may be used to assist with the removal of wax alongside the Microsuction.
Most patients who have adequately prepared their ear canals with appropriate olive oil will only need one treatment, however some patients who have complex ear conditions or who have not had regular ear care may require more than one appointment to complete their care.
WATER IRRIGATION
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 electronic 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. Some specialist instruments may be used to assist with the removal of wax alongside the Water Irrigation. T
here are some types of ear conditions such as fungal ear infections that respond best to water irrigation as the water allows us to flush out any fungal spores – this treatment would be completed in conjunction with anti-fungal drops which needs to be used for a minimum of 3 weeks.
Please Note – Water Precaution Advice: Keep your ear/s dry for one week following ear wax removal or if you have an infection. This is to help prevent against infection beginning or worsening. Ask your Nurse for further details if you require any more advice or have any questions.
©Causeway Clear Ears
HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT
Before your appointment it is important to ensure that your ears are properly prepared to ensure your procedure is successful and as comfortable for you as possible.
Please apply medical sterilised olive oil to BOTH ears twice a day for 4-5 days before your clinic appointment if possible and for one week twice a day before your Home Visit
The brand recommended is called Earol or Cl-ear which is available from Hendersons Pharmacy Plus Chemist, Bushmills Road, Coleraine or McFarlanes Pharmacy Plus Larne.
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 and all fees are charged per Appointment.
EAR INFECTIONS
There are two main types of Ear Infections
- Otitis Externa which is infection within the ear canal, and
- Acute Otitis Media which is infection behind the ear drum.
When the ear canal is filled with infective matter it is essential that this infective matter is removed with Microsuction so that the appropriate treatment with antibtiotic drops or sprays can be effective. In the case of an infection behind the ear drum, the Nurse will provide you with a referral letter for your GP to prescribe oral antibiotics if you are feeling unwell or the infection has been present for more than 48 hours.
This is the only time Oral Antibiotics (tablets) are used to treat ear infection as using antibtiotics in drops or sprays is a much more effective treatment method for infections contained within the ear canals.
There is a very serious, potentially life-threatening ear infection called Mastoiditis and if the Nurse is concerned you may be developing this condition she will provide you with a referral letter for the Emergency Department and request that you attend immediately.
Sometimes a combination of the following treatments is required:
- Micro-suction
- Water Irrigation
- Dry Tool Removal
The procedure and any potential risks/side effects will be explained. You will then be asked to sign the consent form before treatment commences. Any client who cannot provide medical information and informed consent will require a family member to be present to provide this information and consent to the treatment on their behalf.
GLUE EAR
On some occasions you may feel that your ear is blocked but on examination there is no wax blockage found in the ear canal but there may be some evidence that some fluid or mucous is caught behind the ear drum.
The medical term for this is Otitis Media with Effusion or otherwise known as Glue Ear. This can happen after sinus congestion, headcold, flu, covid or chest infection. The Nurse will discuss treatment that you can do at home to help gain ease and resolution.
HEARING LOSS
Some patients present at clinic with a reduction or complete loss in their hearing that has occurred suddenly. If no reason for the loss or reduction in hearing is found during the clinical examination, the Nurse will complete a hearing diagnostic test using a tuning fork to determine if there is any loss of hearing.
We test for both conductive and sensorineural loss which just indicates the type and place of hearing loss.
There are some conditions of nerve related hearing loss which occurs suddenly and is deemed a Medical Emergency and if this is the case the Nurse will write a referral letter for the Emergency Department and request that you attend immediately. A letter for your GP to advise them on the action taken will also be provided. The Nurse will request you keep in touch with her over the following days/weeks to ensure you have received the appropriate care.
If the hearing loss has occurred gradually the Nurse will discuss accessing Audiology services via the NHS with you via referral from your GP.
EDUCATION AND ADVICE
Depending on your Ear Condition – the Nurse will provide advise and education on how you can best manage or help to prevent the condition from reoccurring or worsening.
Patients report that this part of their care has been very helpful and beneficial as they have left their appointment with a greater understanding of why their condition has occurred and that they can do actively to take care of the hearing health in future.
Location and Booking
Causeway Clear Ears offers both Clinic based appointments and Home Visits.
Where we work
- Our Clinic is based at Ostix House, 1 Hillmans Court, Hillmans Way, Coleraine BT52 2DF.
- Pop-Up Clinics in partnership with leading NI Pharmacy Chain, Pharmacy Plus
- Home Visit Service for Housebound Patients and Residents of Nursing & Residential Homes
- Workplace Packages – Supporting Employees Ear Health
Get in touch
Call or Message us on 07849 811 025 or Find us on Facebook or Messenger.
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