Wax suction

Healthy ears contain wax, which is produced by a special lining in the ear canal. Wax protects the ear and helps prevent infection by trapping micro-organisms, dirt and other irritants. Wax is constantly travelling towards the outer ear where it can drop out. In a normal ear, wax is produced in the ear canal and slowly moves towards the entrance of the ear canal – at about the rate that your fingernails grow. This process can slow down as we age, and wax can get stuck in the ear canal.

If you use hearing aids, the aids themselves can push wax back down the canal and cause it to build up.

Wax can also build up and become impacted if you use cotton buds

Microsuction is the preferred method of ear wax removal and offers several benefits compared to irrigation such as:

• The procedure is quicker.
• Your doctor can clearly see inside your ear during the procedure.
• Microsuction doesn’t expose your ear canal to moisture.

Unlike irrigation, microsuction can often be performed on people who have:

• a ruptured eardrum
• a history of ear surgery
• foreign matter in their ear
• mild otitis externa (outer ear infection)

Our registered nurses at Kapiti Hearing, Waikanae, will safely remove excess wax from your ears using microsuction.