Blocked Ears
Ear wax is there for a reason: it protects the ear canal. It only becomes a problem when it builds up and presses against the eardrum, at which point your hearing goes and the ear starts to ache.
Most people have a go at home first. Cotton buds tend to push the wax further in, which makes it worse and occasionally causes damage or infection.
When to Book
An appointment is likely to help if you have:
- Reduced hearing: often described as everything sounding muffled.
- Earache: fullness, pressure or pain inside the ear.
- Tinnitus: ringing or buzzing.
- Dizziness: mild vertigo or unsteadiness.
Done by a Doctor
Unlike a high street clinic, the procedure is carried out by an experienced GP who checks the ear canal and eardrum before and after.
The Procedure
We use ear syringing, carried out by one of our GPs.
At a high street clinic the procedure is often done by a technician. Here a doctor looks at the ear canal and eardrum first and again afterwards, which means an infection or anything else going on gets picked up rather than missed.
Preparing for Your Appointment
This matters. Hard wax is difficult to shift and the procedure is uncomfortable if it has not been softened.
What to do: Put warm olive oil, or pharmacy ear drops such as sodium bicarbonate, into the affected ear for about a week beforehand. It makes the whole thing quicker and easier.
Pricing
This is a standalone appointment, so you do not need a consultation first.
Ear Syringing Appointment (20 minutes)
£85
If we look and the ear is clear of wax but you have an infection or something else going on, the standard consultation fee applies for the diagnosis and any prescription.
