our services

Ear wax removal in Christchurch

Ear wax is normal and healthy — it is how the ear cleans itself. Sometimes it builds up enough to block the canal, and then it needs removing. We do that by microsuction at our Halswell clinic in Christchurch. Here is exactly what that involves.

Ear Wax Removal

Having your ears cleared, explained

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What it is

  • Microsuction uses a fine suction tube and a microscope to lift wax out of the ear canal
  • No water is flushed into your ear, so nothing is pushed towards the eardrum
  • We look into your ear with an otoscope before we start, and again when we finish
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Who it is for

  • Your ear feels blocked, full or muffled
  • Someone has looked in your ear and told you there is wax there
  • You wear hearing aids and the moulds or domes keep clogging up
  • You need clear canals before we take ear impressions for custom plugs
  • You have been advised not to have your ears syringed

What happens

What happens on the day

Five steps, and you can stop us at any point in any of them.

  1. We talk first

    We ask about your ears, anything you have already tried, and whether you have had ear surgery or a perforation.

  2. We look in both ears

    With an otoscope, so we can tell you what we can see before we touch anything.

  3. We remove the wax

    Using suction under the microscope. It is noisy — the suction sounds loud that close to your eardrum. Tell us and we stop.

  4. We look again

    To check the canal and the eardrum, and to show you the difference.

  5. We talk about next time

    Some people make wax faster than others. We tell you whether this is likely to come back for you, and what to do at home if it does.

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Common questions about ear wax removal

How long does ear wax removal take?

Most of the appointment is the look before, the look after, and the conversation. The removal itself is usually the shortest part.

It is not silent and it is not nothing. The suction is loud that close to your eardrum, and you may feel a light tugging or a cool draught. If your ear is already inflamed or infected it can be tender, and we will tell you that before we start rather than after. You can ask us to stop at any point, for any reason.

Often not. For most people wax works its own way out and nothing needs doing. It is worth having looked at if your ear feels blocked or muffled, if your hearing has changed, or if someone has looked in and seen wax sitting against the eardrum. If your ears are fine, we will say so.

You can soften it. For three to five nights beforehand, put one to two drops of olive oil into each ear canal at bedtime. Please do not use cotton buds — they push wax further down the canal. We do not recommend ear candles.

Our clinic is in Halswell, and we see people from across Christchurch and the surrounding districts. For the address, parking and directions, see our finding us page.

Ready when you are

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Pick a time that suits you. If you are not sure which service you need, book anyway and we will work it out together.

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Related services: hearing tests, custom ear plugs, and all our services. For directions and parking, see finding us.