Patients often ask us one question first: is ear wax removal at home safe? The short answer is yes. Naturally, moving the procedure from a clinic room into your home gives the practitioner a few extra things to consider. However, the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. Below, we explain the top five benefits of our home visit service.
1. Convenience and Time Savings
A home visit is often far more convenient than a trip to the clinic. It saves time travelling, finding parking or navigating public transport. Our service avoids all of this by coming to your door. This is especially important for elderly patients with mobility issues, who might otherwise struggle to get out and about.
Most of our patients are also far more relaxed in familiar surroundings. The procedure only needs an ordinary chair, so there is no need for special seating. Before starting, the audiologist examines your ears using video otoscopy and takes a thorough case history. Then, they decide on the best ear wax removal method for you.
Because the audiologist comes to you, you also save time travelling. Getting to one of our branches can take quite a while. So, a bespoke service like this is very handy, especially for our elderly patients.
We have plenty of slots in the diary, so you can choose an appointment that fits your schedule. Visits are available between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Saturday. In addition, our waiting times are very reasonable. Most of our patients wait no more than a day or two for a home visit.
2. Personalised and Dedicated Care
A dedicated, qualified audiologist visiting your home gives you a more bespoke and unhurried experience. We give our audiologists 90 minutes for each appointment. As a result, they can carry out the procedure in a calm, safe environment.
You can also talk to our ear wax removal audiologists about any concerns with your ears and hearing. To begin with, we take a thorough case history of any ear-related issues. We then advise on the best course of action.
3. Safety and Hygiene
Our equipment is state of the art and portable. In fact, it is the same equipment we use in clinic, so we can easily move it between sites. For example, we use state-of-the-art video endoscopes to see deep into your ear canal and remove the toughest ear wax.
We sanitise all our equipment between uses, so every area stays clean. We also use single-use instruments for all our procedures. This prevents any chance of cross-contamination.
Busy clinics can sometimes have an unnecessary impact on your health, especially if you have underlying health conditions. Ear wax removal at home minimises your risk of catching any nasty bugs. Therefore, a controlled home environment is often the better choice.
4. Accessibility for People With Mobility Issues
Getting to a clinic can be difficult if you have mobility issues. This can be even harder in winter, with colder temperatures and more challenging road conditions. When we come to you, you no longer have to worry about any of this.
Regular ear care also matters. You should not let ear wax build up until it severely affects your hearing. Otherwise, you may need a more complicated procedure, and you risk problems such as infections or tinnitus. Regular ear wax removal at home makes this much easier to manage.
5. Safer for Vulnerable Patients
Ear wax removal at home is often safer for patients in care homes or those with weakened immune systems. In these cases, an audiologist visiting them is always the better option.
Many patients also feel uncomfortable in clinical settings. A relaxed, familiar setting can relieve a lot of the stress of visiting a clinic. This is especially true for patients living with dementia or Alzheimer’s. In addition, you avoid the crowds at busy clinics, which can cause further anxiety.
For elderly people, those recovering from surgery and people with disabilities, travelling to a clinic can pose risks. A home visit removes the need for potentially hazardous trips. As a result, it reduces the risk of falls and other travel-related complications.
How Ear Wax Removal at Home Works
- Before the appointment, use softening drops for 4–5 days to soften the ear wax.
- When the audiologist arrives, they will knock on your door and show their name card.
- Next, they take a thorough case history, covering your current symptoms and past medical history.
- They then use video endoscopy to check the health of your ear canals and identify the wax.
- Afterwards, they choose the most suitable ear wax removal procedure.
- The microsuction procedure itself takes 5–10 minutes per ear. It uses a small suction device to remove the wax safely.
- Finally, your audiologist gives you advice on caring for your ears and preventing further blockages.
Who Needs Regular Ear Wax Removal at Home?
If you have long-term problems with blocking ear wax, regular removal every six months is important. Common reasons for repeated build-up include:
- Narrow ear canals
- Wearing hearing aids, which push ear wax deeper into the canal
- Diabetes, which can slow the natural migration of keratin out of the ear canal
You can read more about the causes of earwax build-up on the NHS website.
FAQs About Ear Wax Removal at Home
What should I do before ear wax removal at home?
Use softening ear drops, such as olive oil-based drops, for at least 4–5 days before your appointment. This loosens the ear wax and makes the procedure more comfortable.
Can I hear immediately after microsuction?
Yes, in most cases the results are immediate, so you should be able to hear straight after the procedure.
How long does the procedure take?
The procedure usually takes 5–10 minutes per ear. We keep the time inside the ear canal as short as possible. This helps prevent long-term issues such as tinnitus.
How do I prepare my home for the visit?
Your audiologist will need a free power socket to plug in their equipment. You will also need a table and two chairs, so you and the practitioner can both sit down. It is also worth deciding in advance where you would like the procedure to take place.
How often do I need ear wax removal?
If you are prone to wax build-up, we recommend an ear check every six months. Hearing aid wearers may need more frequent cleaning, because hearing aids can push wax deeper into the ear canal.
Conclusion: Is Ear Wax Removal at Home Right for You?
Ear wax removal at home offers a safe, convenient and effective solution for anyone who struggles with ear wax build-up. It removes the need to travel and lets you relax in familiar surroundings. As a result, it particularly suits elderly patients and people with mobility issues. It also suits anyone who wants a more personal approach to ear care.
If you have ear wax build-up, book a home visit appointment today for quick relief and better hearing.