General Information about Earwax and Microsuction
The procedure involves the use of small instruments and gentle suction to remove wax blockages. Your nurse uses binocular glasses fitted with a bright light to maintain direct vision into the ear at all times. For more information about the procedure, click here.
No, there is no water involved in the micro-suction and curettage procedure. This is a dry technique.
The ear is a self-cleaning organ. Wax is produced in the outer third of the ear canal and leaves the ear via migrating skin cells which work their way out from the eardrum at about the same rate as your fingernails grow. For a small percentage of the population however, wax does not remove itself naturally. This wax can then become impacted in the ear canal leading to symptoms.
You may be more at risk of wax build up if you:
- Use cotton buds or other objects in your ear
- Wear hearing aids
- Regularly use ‘ear bud’ headphones
- Have narrow, bendy or hairy ear canals
- Suffer skin conditions such as psoriasis or dermatitis
- Work in dusty environments
- Are stressed
- Overproduce earwax
Signs of impacted wax can include (but are not limited to):
- Feeling of fullness
- Hearing loss
- Tinnitus
- Itching
- Pain
- Discharge
- Odour
- Cough
Avoid using anything in the ear (e.g. cotton buds, hairpins) as this may push wax further down the canal, worsening symptoms. You may also try chemist softeners, to assist the self-cleaning mechanism of the ear to remove wax. Once a month or fortnight is all that is necessary.
Preparation for Earwax Removal
We suggest using ear wax softening drops or olive oil to help loosen your ear wax before your Earworx appointment. You can find these drops at your nearby pharmacy/chemist, or purchase them at the Earworx clinic or via our recommended products page.
Our preferred softening solution is ‘Ear Clear’ or Olive oil. If you have a known hole in the ear drum or grommets, you should not use drops. Optimally, you should use drops two to three days before coming in if you are able.
If your child requires an appointment at Earworx, it is recommended to use softening ear drops or olive oil in their ears prior to the visit. If your child has grommets or a hole in the ear drum, they should not use drops. Our nurses are specially trained and many of them have a background in working with children, so we will always explain the procedure to your child using age-appropriate language to ensure they feel relaxed and calm. You can help also by talking about the process with your child beforehand, explaining that it will not hurt but will be a little noisy. Bringing something along to distract your child, such as a video ready to run on an ipad or your phone, will also be helpful.
It is helpful to use softening drops or olive oil for at least two days prior to your appointment to assist with removal unless you have a hole in the eardrum or grommets.
Earworx recommends the use of plain olive oil for this purpose, or Ear Clear™ from your local chemist.
It is helpful to use softening drops or olive oil for two days prior to your appointment if able to assist with removal. If you have a hole in the eardrum or grommets, please do not use drops.
Earworx recommends the use of plain olive oil for this purpose, or Ear Clear™ from your local chemist.
Learn more about commercial softening products
Learn more about softening your ear wax before your appointment
During and After the Procedure
When you come into Earworx for an ear clearing appointment, you will begin by filling out a questionnaire designed to provide insight into the problems you are experiencing with your ears. After this, our Registered Nurse will thoroughly examine your ears to determine if you require ear wax removal. If so, the microsuction procedure will be explained to you in full, before our nurse begins to gently remove your wax using small instruments such as curettes and the microsuction technique. You can find a detailed overview of the process here.
No. Some people may experience mild discomfort due to the ‘slurpy’ noise of the suction and during removal of very impacted wax. Occasionally mild dizziness may be experienced. If this occurs the nurse will stop the suction to allow the dizziness to settle.
Approximately 15-30 minutes depending on how much wax is in the ear. If wax is very dry and impacted, softening may be necessary prior to removal to avoid trauma to the ear canal. A complimentary return visit is provided following a week if required.
Our thorough microsuction process will clear away all excess and impacted ear wax from your ears. However, ear wax is a normal and natural part of the body, and wax is needed to protect your inner ear from damage. You can keep your ear wax healthy and soft by using softening drops after your appointment. Some people are more prone to wax impaction than others – if this is you, we have discounts available for people who require frequent wax removal (see our Regular Return Rate).
Suitability and Safety
The procedure is suitable for people with:
- An overproduction of earwax
- Perforated ear drums
- Problems in the ear canal where syringing is unsuitable
- Hearing aids
- Previous ear surgery – you may require a referral back to your ENT specialist
- Narrow ear canals
- Curvy ear canals
- Hairy ear canals
- Skin conditions like dermatitis or psoriasis
- Diabetes
Preventing symptoms related to wax build up is key to maintaining good ear health. A visit to Earworx once a year can assist in this process.
We see children down to the age of 4 years. A discussion with Earworx staff is recommended prior to booking. For safety reasons children need to be able to follow direction and keep reasonably still. Please phone 1800 327 967
In Australia, the general position is that a person under 18 years of age is legally regarded as a minor.
Whilst NSW and SA legislation recognises a child’s ability to consent to medical treatment earlier it is the Earworx policy that any teenager under 18 years must be accompanied by a parent or authorised carer who can provide parental consent for treatment. This parent/authorised carer will be required to complete the questionnaire and consent form, and remain with the child throughout the procedure.
For safety reasons, Earworx does not treat children under four years old and those with complex ear histories. We also do not treat anyone who had undergone mastoid surgery without endorsement via a letter from your ENT or GP. If you are unsure whether you’re eligible for treatment, give our friendly team a call to discuss.
Your qualified registered nurse has undertaken a Nationally Accredited Earworx Course in Aural Care, and has completed an extensive practical placement in order to work safely within the ear canal and around the eardrum. This involves approximately 20 hours of study and a 1-week clinical placement. Read more About Us here.
Yes. Micro-suction is the same gentle, effective and dry technique used by ENT specialists across Australia.
The noise generated during microsuction for ear wax removal is not loud enough to cause damage to your hearing. Microsuction is a safe and gentle procedure and is the method preferred by ENT specialists to remove ear wax. However, if you have concerns about noise levels or potential discomfort during the procedure, it’s always a good idea to discuss them with your Earworx Registered Nurse.
Costs and Rebates
Our qualified registered nurses use dry and effective micro suction to gently remove ear wax under direct observation.
The standard appointment fee for ear wax removal with Earworx is $165.
We offer a concession appointment fee for Pensioners, Veterans, Government Health Care Card Holders, Children, and Full-Time Students for $120.
If no ear wax is found during your appointment, we offer a reduced rate of $80 for the consultation (or $60 for concession).
If further follow up appointments are required after additional softening (within 4 weeks of initial appointment), all follow up appointments will be charged at a rate of $75 for standard fee paying patients (or $45 for concession).
A regular return rate applies for patients who attend within 3 months or more frequently. This is $100 for regular return standard fee paying patients and $90 for regular concession/pension card holders.
Please note we are a provider for St Lukes Health and Health Care Insurance (HCI).
We also see children aged 4 years or older. A discussion with Earworx staff is recommended prior to booking. For safety reasons children need to be able to follow direction and keep reasonably still.
For more information, visit our Earworx Pricing page and our terms and conditions.
This fee is partly rebatable through St Lukes Health (provider number A4001013) and Health Care Insurance depending on your level of cover. Please contact St Lukes or Health Care Insurance directly to ascertain the amount of your health care fund rebate. The fee is not rebatable through medicare.
We are a trusted provider for St Lukes Health and Health Care Insurance (HCI). Our flexible pricing and insurance partnerships are designed to make our services as accessible as possible to the communities that we serve. If you’re unsure if your appointment will be covered, get in touch with us.
Unfortunately, the DVA currently does not cover registered nurses as they do not have a Medicare Provider Number. DVA patients are eligible for a concession rate for wax removal services if they present their GOLD or WHITE DVA card at the time of their appointment.
Whilst we would love to assist at Earworx with TCAs, unfortunately, we are unable to sign up for Team Care Arrangement as Registered Nurses currently do not have access to the MBS and are not eligible to provide services under Team Care Arrangements.
We are lobbying hard to see change to this funding model for nurses working independently and within their scope.
To ensure the safety of our staff cash is not held or accepted on site. We accept payment on the day of the appointment via card, and can also facilitate payment over the phone if required. Your credit card payment is transmitted securely and processed in real time, and your credit card details are not retained by us.
Booking and Rescheduling Appointments
Whilst your GP or audiologist may refer you to us, no referral is necessary.
Yes, but if you have an urgent problem we will do our best to see you the same day.
If you need to reschedule your Earworx appointment, please call our call centre team on 1800 327 967. All details can be found on our contact page.
To prevent ear wax build up and impaction, you can practice good ear health by using softening drops to prevent ear wax hardening inside the ear, and avoid attempting to remove wax yourself using implements such as cotton buds (which push wax deeper into the ear, causing further problems).
To learn more about your local clinic and the friendly Registered Nurse who will be assisting you, visit your clinic page on our website. Find all our clinics here.
Special Considerations
If you have hearing aids it is a good idea to have your ears checked for wax build up every 3-6 months.
Contact and Products
We offer a range of methods to get in touch. Call us on 1800 327 967, contact us online using our enquiry form, or email [email protected]
We have ear wax softening drops available for purchase at our clinics. These can be used in the lead up to your micro suction appointment, or regularly to maintain healthy levels of earwax.
Special Services
Due to workplace health and safety issues, Earworx is no longer able to provide home visits. Where ears are blocked with wax and you are unable to leave home or your care facility, we recommend softening drops to treat wax build up. Please do not use cotton buds inside the ear canal as this can push wash down the ear canal, worsening symptoms. For external ear infections, please keep the ear dry, seek medical advice, and refer to the Victorian Eye and Ear factsheet on use of peroxide 3% for ear infections to assist in relief of blockages.