A blocked ear can make conversations sound muffled, leave you feeling uncomfortable, or stop us from getting a clear view of your eardrum. At Sound Audiology, we use microsuction to remove troublesome wax while viewing the ear canal.
Ear wax, also called cerumen, has an important job. It coats and lubricates the delicate skin of the ear canal, traps dust and other debris, and helps protect the ear from infection. Your ears also have a natural cleaning process that gradually moves wax outwards.
So wax itself isn’t a problem, and having it doesn’t mean your ears are dirty. Most ear wax comes out on its own. It needs attention when it builds up, causes symptoms, or prevents us from examining or testing your ears.
Microsuction uses a small suction device to lift wax out of the ear. We can see what we’re doing throughout the appointment and work around the shape of your individual ear canal. It doesn’t involve putting water into the ear.
That’s different from ear irrigation, which uses a controlled flow of water to loosen wax and carry it back out of the canal. Irrigation can be appropriate for some people, but it isn’t suitable for every ear. An eardrum perforation is one possible complication.
While working throughout Melbourne, Holly saw many patients who had experienced perforated eardrums following ear irrigation. Those experiences stayed with her. She wanted to offer her patients another way to manage wax, particularly when water in the ear was a concern.
In 2018, Holly completed the Crystal Clear Ears wax removal course. She introduced microsuction at Sound Audiology in 2019, and it has been part of our ear care ever since.
We begin by looking in your ears and asking about your symptoms and ear history. If wax needs removing and microsuction is suitable, we’ll explain the process and work carefully while viewing the ear canal. Some wax may need softening first, and occasionally more than one appointment is needed.
If your ear feels blocked, we can take a look and talk you through the right next step.
Our first micro suction set up in 2019
