Southern Hearing Excellence
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Ear wax removal service

Our audiologist, with a specialisation in ear wax removal, can perform this procedure in comfort of your own home or our clinic. We use micro-suction as our chosen method of wax removal, as micro-suction is the most effective and safest way of removing ear wax, and is widely considered the gold standard method. We do not use syringe/water removal of ear wax. Our audiologist is both fully trained and medically insured to perform this procedure. 

*A medical referral from your doctor is not required.

*If a repeat visit is required to remove all the wax, this will not occur any further charges.


What to expect during the removal

Before the procedure, our audiologist will conduct a thorough ear health check to ensure safety. You do not need to use ear drops prior to wax removal.  The procedure generally lasts 20-30 minutes, but in cases of heavy wax buildup, it may extend to an hour. 

During the procedure, a head-mounted microscope with a suction device is used. This machine functions like a vacuum to extract the wax. Depending on the wax volume and duration in the ear, your audiologist may also employ curettage and forceps in conjunction with microsuction. You might experience slight sensitivity during wax removal.


All ear wax appointments include the following
Video otoscopy imaging - allowing you to see the successful results of the procedure by showing you before/ after images of your ear canal.
A counselling / management plan - to ensure you stay on top of your ear wax, limiting the need for future medical ear wax removal.
If requested, a medical report can be sent to your GP following the procedure. Additional costs apply.

Pricing 

Whether performed at our clinic or your home, our ear wax removal prices are the same.

Ear wax removal (2 ears)   $170

Ear wax removal (1 ear)       $90

*If a home visit for wax removal concludes that no removal is necessary, a $50 call-out fee will be charged.
Book an ear wax removal

FAQ about ear wax 

What causes ear wax blockages?

  • Ear canal anatomy plays a big part - in relation to bends and the width of the canal, which can cause some ears to be more prone to wax blockages than others. That's why people might find one ear blocks routinely more than the other.

  • As we age, the body is not as effective at removing wax naturally. This leads to frequent blockages in older people, and is a widely known issue in the elderly.

  • Hearing aid use can increase wax blockages.

  • Genetics pays a role in wax blockages - some people are simply more prone to producing ear wax, while others are not.

What are the symptoms of ear wax blockages?

  • Ear discomfort - the feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear.

  • The feeling of something "clicking" or moving around in the ear.

  • Tinnitus - the sensation of "buzzing", "humming" or "clicking" noises within the ears.

  • Balance problems - in severe cases, balance can be impacted by a wax blockage.

  • Hearing loss - in extreme cases of wax build up, a condutive hearing loss can occur.

  • Increased risk of ear infections - if ear wax is fully occluding the ear canal, a risk of an inner-ear infection or fungal infection is increased, leading to more complications.

What is the most effective way to manage my ear wax?

  • The best way to manage ear wax is to prevent a blockage occuring in the first place. This can be done by using over-the-counter pharmacy wax drops once a day, 1-2 times per month.

  • The method for procedure is as follows: tilt the head to the side and fill up the canal with the wax drop liquid, holding the ear tilted for a further 2 minutes. Once completed, allow some water from your shower head to trickle down the ear canal. This helps loosen and remove the already softened wax. Generally this should be done for atleast 2-3 repeats, once a day. If this procedure does not work after 4-5 repeats, you will need to have the wax professionally removed by an audiologist or medical professional.

  • The best wax drops to use is our opinion is "Ear Clear", which comes in both a drop or spray application. It is available at most pharmacies as OTC.

Is it okay to remove ear wax using cottom swabs?

  • The short answer to this is, no, it is not. Cotton swabs often push wax deeper into the ear canal, exacerbating the issue. If cotton swabs are used, they should only be applied to the outer entrance of the canal, gently rolling the swab around the area. However, utilising ear drops once or twice a month serves as a more effective way to manage ear wax. Consequently, we do not endorse the use of cotton swabs for ear wax removal.

  • Areas we cover in Albany

    Albany central, Bayonet Head, Collingwood Park, Cuthbeth, Emu Point, Gledhow, King River, Little Grove, Lower King, Upper King, Lange, McKail, Middleton Beach, Mira Mar, Milpara, Millbrook, Orana, Robinson, Spencer Park, Warrenup, Yakamia

  • Areas we cover outside of Albany

    Bornholm, Denmark, Elleker, Goode Beach, Kalgan, Kronkup, Marebelup, Nanarup, Narrikup, Ocean Beach, Robinson, Scottsdale, Torbay

Albany, Western Australia

040 932 3259

southernhearingexcellence@protonmail.me