What is Ear Syringing and is it still Popular?

Ear Syringing. We have had our ears syringed for decades, from that silver syringe we recall from childhood to the gently pulsing machine of later years. It's now increasingly challenging to find places that syringe ears.

But why is that, and what is the alternative?

Syringing, or irrigation as it's often known. Is the process where water is gently pumped into the ears, flushing the wax out. The ear wax need to be very soft for this to happen(hence the olive oil that's required in advance).

But this isn't without its challenges.

Is Ear Syringing Safe?

With ear syringing, the clinician can't look into the ear as the water goes in. Water also comes with an increased risk of infection. A clinician or nurse who syringes regularly probably has an excellent success rate, but others can end up with plaques of wax sticking to the eardrum.

The alternative? Microsuction. Used by ENT consultants for many years, the process where the clinician can see exactly what they are doing, as they do it. Gently vacuuming the wax out of the ear canal. It's safer and more comfortable. And best of all oil or drops can be added during the procedure, removing the need for weeks of olive oil and that additional blocked feeling.

What is Microsuction Ear Wax Removal?

When you arrange microsuction it is worth asking your clinician about the magnification they use for the procedure. The higher the magnification the safer and more precise the wax removal will be. Head-worn loupes typically have a magnification of 3.5x. Endoscopes (which are often attached to an iPhone) have a magnification of 8x. The gold standard is an ENT microscope, with a magnification of 20x.

Here at The Hearing Suite we are proud to have two ENT microscopes which we use for all of our procedures.

Maybe it's time for your next wax removal appointment? Book an appointment!