Frequently Asked Questions

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Microsuction is a safe procedure and unlike syringing it uses a vacuum  to clear wax under the direct vision of a microscope to avoid damage to the ear drum. 

Syringing forces pressurised water into the ear canal, this is not the case with Microsuction. 

Microsuction is not only safer it is also less uncomfortable than syringing.

For various reasons some people need ear syringing rather than Microsuction.  Mary is able to offer this as well so please contact her to discuss.

There are very few people for whom Microsuction cannot be used or tolerated. These are -

• patients who have experienced difficulties in the past with microsuction
• a history of severe dizziness
• patients who have major sensitivity to loud noise (hyperacusis)
• patents who are unable to hold their head still or are prone to unpredictable head movements
• if valid consent has not been obtained

In the case of past perforations (burst ear drum) Microsuction is the safest option. As opposed to ear syringing that uses water.  Water must never be used in the case of perforation. A perforation causes a long term weakness in the ear drum. Unlike water, microsuction removes the wax safely without  putting pressure on the ear drum or canal walls. 

Microsuction is a safe procedure.  There is a very small risk of minor trauma to the ear canal or infection that can cause irritation. Some patients with a wax build up have an inflamed or infected ear canal prior to the procedure. Microsuction can help to resolve this but you may be advised to use antibiotic ear drops after the procedure .

The video otoscope is one of the latest screening technologies. It uses a  small fibre optic camera to see the condition of your ear. It gives a detailed photograph that enables you to  view  the  before after pictures of microsuction.   

The video otoscope can check the  eardrum condition , ear canal problems and infections and  the level and build up of wax in your ear. 

A photo of your ear drum  can be emailed to you at your request.

Earwax is a naturally occurring substance which is important to the health of your ears. Usually your ears naturally clear earwax so that it does not build up. Some people experience symptoms from excessive earwax which may need treatment. 

If you put items like cotton buds in your ear it stimulates the the glands to make more as a protective factor. it can then become a recurrent problem.

As you get older ear wax can become drier which becomes problematic.

Different nationalities produce different types of wax. South East Asian people produce a dry, more flaky wax. Caucasian and African Caribbean people produce more sticky, wet wax.

People who have narrow ear canals find the wax does not work itself out naturally.

Hearing aid users often have troublesome wax as the mould constantly comes into contact with the glands that produce wax. As a consequence this stimulates the gland to produce even more wax. 

There is no upper limit on how many times a year you can have your ear wax cleared with Microsuction. Its very individual, some people need this done every 3 - 4 months. Generally its once or twice a year.

It is not always necessary to prepare yours ears prior to Microsuction. However it may make the procedure easier if if you apply Olive oil a few days before your appointment as follows - 

USING OLIVE OIL EAR DROPS 

Olive oil encourages the natural movement of wax from  the outer ear It is advisable to buy a bottle of olive oil and ‘dropper’ from  your local pharmacist. Use olive oil drops as directed by  your nurse. Most patients find that applying 1-2 drops at night, for 3-4  nights prior to an appointment, is helpful for wax removal.

If  you have continued problems with excessive wax it may be  beneficial to use 1-2 drops of olive oil each week. This will  not stop wax collecting, but will make removal easier. 

1. Lie down on your side with the affected ear upwards. 

2. Gently pull the outer ear backwards and upwards (see  diagram below). Using room temperature olive oil and  the dropper, drop 1-2 drops in the ear canal and gently  massage the area in front of the ear. 

3. Remain lying down for 10 minutes and then wipe away  any excess oil. DO NOT put any cotton wool in your  ear canal as this will absorb the oil. 

4. Repeat the procedure with the opposite ear if  necessary. 

USING DROPS PRESCRIBED BY  THE DOCTOR OR NURSE 

1. Follow the instructions as for olive oil ear drops. 

2. You will need to use the drops more frequently than  the olive oil drops. Please follow the instructions on  the bottle. 

3. Make sure you complete the course of treatment 

Wax is normal it is produced to protect your ears. Your ears should be self cleaning if you use cotton buds to try to remove the wax it will only be pushed down further into the ear canal and block your ear. If you have repeated problems with wax blocking your ears using olive oil  once or twice a month will help to prevent this. 

Your ears should only be cleaned by a nurse trained in ear care as they are able to see into your ear canal - you are unable to do this If you have ear problems such as dry skin, eczema , 'runny ears' you will find that keeping your ears dry will improve these conditions

The easiest way to keep your ears dry when swimming, bathing or showering is by using ear plugs or a piece of cotton wool smeared with vaseline. It is advisable not to leave cotton wool in your ear unless advised to do so by a health professional.

If you have problems with your ears do not ignore them.  Make an appointment to see your practice nurse . If you ignore the problem it can make it more difficult to treat.

If you have an ear infection here is a link with some helpful advice -  Ear infections - NHS (www.nhs.uk) 

Here are some links with helpful advice -

 Earwax build-up - NHS (www.nhs.uk) 

 Earache - NHS (www.nhs.uk) 

 Perforated eardrum - NHS (www.nhs.uk) 

Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent. It often comes on gradually as you get older, but it can sometimes happen suddenly.

See a GP if you notice any problems with your hearing so you can find out the cause and get advice on treatment.

Signs and symptoms of hearing loss- 

It's not always easy to tell if you're losing your hearing.

Common signs include:

• difficulty hearing other people clearly, and misunderstanding what they say, especially in noisy places
• asking people to repeat themselves
• listening to music or watching television loudly
• having to concentrate hard to hear what other people are saying, which can be tiring or stressful

The signs can be slightly different if you only have hearing loss in 1 ear or if a young child has hearing loss.

Read more about the signs and symptoms of hearing loss.

When to get medical help

A GP can help if you think you're losing your hearing.

• if you or your child suddenly lose hearing (in 1 or both ears), call a GP or NHS 111 as soon as possible
• if you think your or your child's hearing is getting gradually worse, make an appointment to see a GP
• if you're concerned about a friend's or family member's hearing, encourage them to see a GP

The GP will ask about your symptoms and look inside your ears using a small handheld torch with a magnifying lens. They can also do some simple checks of your hearing.

If needed, they can refer you to a specialist for more hearing tests.

Causes of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can have many different causes. For example:

• sudden hearing loss in 1 ear may be due to earwax, an ear infection, a perforated (burst) eardrum or Ménière's disease
• sudden hearing loss in both ears may be due to damage from a very loud noise, or taking certain medicines that can affect hearing
• gradual hearing loss in 1 ear may be due to something inside the ear, such as fluid (glue ear), a bony growth (otosclerosis) or a build-up of skin cells (cholesteatoma)
• gradual hearing loss in both ears is usually caused by ageing or exposure to loud noises over many years

This may give you an idea of the reason for hearing loss – but make sure you see a GP to get a proper diagnosis. It might not always be possible to identify an obvious cause.

Treatments for Hearing Loss

Hearing loss sometimes gets better on its own, or may be treated with medicine or a simple procedure. For example, earwax can be sucked out, or softened with eardrops.

But other types – such as gradual hearing loss, which often happens as you get older – may be permanent. In these cases, treatment can help make the most of the remaining hearing. This may involve using:

• hearing aids – several different types are available on the NHS or privately
• implants – devices that are attached to your skull or placed deep inside your ear, if hearing aids are not suitable
• different ways of communicating – such as sign language or lip reading

Read more about treatments for hearing loss

Preventing Hearing Loss

It's not always possible to prevent hearing loss, but there are some simple things you can do to reduce the risk of damaging your hearing.

These include:

• not having your television, radio or music on too loud
• using headphones that block out more outside noise, instead of turning up the volume
• wearing ear protection (such as ear defenders) if you work in a noisy environment, such as a garage workshop or a building site; special vented earplugs that allow some noise in are also available for musicians
• using ear protection at loud concerts and other events where there are high noise levels
• not inserting objects into your or your children's ears – this includes fingers, cotton buds, cotton wool and tissues

Read more tips to protect your hearing

Tinnitus is the name for hearing noises that are not caused by sounds coming from the outside world. It is common and not usually a sign of anything serious. It might get better by itself and there are treatments that can help.

Tinnitus can sound like:

• ringing
• buzzing
• whooshing
• humming
• hissing
• throbbing
• music or singing

You may hear these sounds in 1 or both ears, or in your head. They may come and go, or you might hear them all the time.

See a GP if  - 

• you have tinnitus regularly or constantly
• your tinnitus is getting worse
• your tinnitus is bothering you – for example, it's affecting your sleep or concentration, or is making you feel anxious and depressed
• you have tinnitus that beats in time with your pulse

 Call 999 or go to A&E if you have tinnitus : 

• after a head injury
• with sudden hearing loss, weakness in the muscles of your face, or a spinning sensation (vertigo)

What happens at your appointment - 

The GP will look in your ears to see if your tinnitus is caused by something they can treat, like an ear infection or a build-up of earwax.

They might also check for any hearing loss.

You may be referred to a specialist for further tests and treatment.

Things you can try to help to cope with tinnitus - 

Do - 

• try to relax – deep breathing or yoga may help
• try to find ways to improve your sleep, such as sticking to a bedtime routine or cutting down on caffeine
• try to avoid things that can make tinnitus worse, such as stress or loud background noises
• try self-help books or self-help techniques to help you cope better from the British Tinnitus Association (BTA)
• join a support group – talking to other people with tinnitus may help you cope

Don't - 

• do not have total silence – listening to soft music or sounds (called sound therapy) may distract you from the tinnitus
• do not focus on it, as this can make it worse – hobbies and activities may take your mind off it

The British Tinnitus Association (BTA) has more information about sound therapy, and runs support groups and a free helpline on 0800 018 0527.

RNID also has a free helpline on 0808 808 0123.

Treatments for Tinnitus

If the cause of your tinnitus is unknown or cannot be treated you GP or specialist may refer you to a type of talking therapy

This could be:

• tinnitus counselling – to help you learn about your tinnitus and find ways of coping with it
• cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – to change the way you think about your tinnitus and reduce anxiety
• tinnitus retraining therapy – using sound therapy to retrain your brain to tune out and be less aware of the tinnitus

Tinnitus retraining therapy may be available on the NHS for people with severe or persistent tinnitus. It's unclear if tinnitus retraining therapy works for everyone. It's widely available privately.

If tinnitus is causing you hearing loss, hearing aids may be recommended.

Causes if tinnitus

It's not always clear what causes tinnitus, but it's often linked to:

• some form of hearing loss
• Ménière's disease
• conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disorders or multiple sclerosis
• anxiety or depression
• taking certain medicines – tinnitus can be a side effect of some chemotherapy medicines, antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and aspirin

Video : tinnitus (BSL version) - 

In this video, learn about tinnitus, its possible causes and the effects and how to deal with it.

Play VideoMedia last reviewed: 1 June 2021

https://www.tinnitus.org.uk/

https://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/

The NHS website - NHS (www.nhs.uk

RNID - National hearing loss charity 

Earwax build-up - NHS (www.nhs.uk)  

Earache - NHS (www.nhs.uk)  

Perforated eardrum - NHS (www.nhs.uk)