We all produce ear wax at different rates, and it can be any colour from pale to very dark. Ear wax is a good thing: it protects your ear canal and eardrum, keeping them moist and trapping dirt and germs.

But some people need help from time to time to get rid of their ear wax build-up. Some of us just naturally produce more, whereas others have very narrow ear canals. Those who wear hearing aids, earplugs or earbuds may produce more ear wax. And it tends to become harder, and more uncomfortable, with age.

Our audiologists will remove any adult’s unwanted ear wax quickly, safely and painlessly using microsuction.

How do you know if you have an ear wax problem?

You may have earache or itchiness, and perhaps even dizziness or an ear infection. You may simply be able to see excessive wax. Perhaps you feel your hearing isn’t what it could be – although it’s important to get checked out, rather than attempting to remove the wax yourself. Because if your hearing loss isn't caused by ear wax, you need to know so you can get some support, like a hearing aid.

What is ‘microsuction’?

Essentially, microsuction is high-precision, gentle vacuuming of your ear canal. It removes your excess ear wax cleanly and safely, without causing any damage to the sensitive ear canal and ear drum.

What are the benefits of microsuction?

Traditionally, ear wax is removed by ‘syringing’, which means water is forced into your ear canal to clear the wax. Here’s why modern microsuction is better:
It isn’t messy, like water.
It’s much safer than syringing. Water irrigation can lead to bleeding and soreness from bruising or a resulting infection. When it goes badly wrong, syringing can perforate your ear drum or lead to tinnitus or hearing loss. Whereas microsuction is safe even if you’ve had a perforated ear drum in the past
While we’re doing your microsuction, we get a close-up view right inside your ear canal – and we can see exactly what we’re doing.

How do we remove your excess ear wax?

You’ll make an appointment with your nearest Bayfields audiologist. You should allow 15-30 minutes for the appointment.
We’ll ask you to soften your ear wax with drops for a week before you come in. We can provide the drops, or you can get them over the counter in a pharmacy, or you could just use olive oil at home.
When you come in, we’ll ask you for a history of your ear health and then inspect your ear canals up close.
If we think your ear wax is problematic enough to need removing, we’ll do it using microsuction. If not, we won’t charge you a penny.
You’ll come back for a follow-up check (included in the cost of your ear wax removal), when we’ll see how you’re getting on and check your hearing. We recommend that most people then come back annually for further removal.

Should you remove ear wax at home?

In a word, no. Most GPs no longer do ear wax removal, but you should still be treated by a professional like a Bayfields audiologist. You could do significant and even irreversible damage if you poke things into your ear canals, and it’s especially important to leave children’s ear canals alone.

How much does ear wax removal cost?

We charge £39 for one ear and £59 for both. If we decide you don’t need any wax removing, you won’t pay anything. And this price includes a free follow-up appointment, plus a second ear wax removal appointment if we can’t do it all in one go.