Ear wax removal
Other Services
Ear wax removal
Excessive or impacted ear wax affects nearly one in ten people causing hearing loss, pain, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), itching, discharge and other issues.
It can be caused by:
- Narrow, hairy or curved ear canals
- Wearing hearing aids, ear plugs or ear bud headphones
- Water sports or working in dusty environments
- Using cotton buds or other objects in the ear
We offer ear wax removal by registered nurses who are qualified in the same gentle, effective and dry ear microsuction process used by Ear Nose & Throat specialists. Unlike ear syringing, which can cause infection or even damage to the eardrum, the procedure is very safe, even for people with perforated ear drums.
For people with complex ear problems and/or under the care of an ENT specialist, we recommend checking with your doctor prior to booking an appointment. We also do not provide this service to children under 12 years old.
If you have a perforated ear drum, wax softening drops are not recommended. If you do not have a perforated ear drum, wax softening drops are optional. We recommend Chemist grade olive oil or a product like Waxsol for 1-2 days prior to the procedure. Ideally you should lie on your side for five minutes after putting in the drops.
Click here for more information.
Ear microsuctioning takes 15-30 minutes per ear and our fees are:
|
Standard Fee |
Healthcare cardholder |
|
|
One ear |
$90 |
$80 |
|
Second ear |
$50 |
$40 |
Unfortunately no rebate is available.
If no wax removal is required, we charge a minimum assessment fee of $20.
Health professionals providing these services
Please note that this may not be a full list of providers. To search for services in your area, click here to find your nearest medical centre.
Aaron, Kirsty, Stephni and Rickie
Registered Nurses trained in ear microsuction
We have a selection of registered nurses at Sippy Downs who are trained in ear microsuction.
Aaron Ponton is an experienced Registered Nurse with training in paramedicine. A member of the Ochre Sippy Downs team for over 5 years, Aaron has also completed additional specialised training in ear health and microsuctioning.
Kirsty Knowland is a Registered Nurse with a broad range of experience across both hospital and general practice settings. She spent 14 years working in the hospital system as a nurse and midwife, then 16 years working in general practice. She has recently undertaken additional specialised training in ear health and microsuctioning due to increasing demand for ear health services, in part due to the ever-growing popularity of water sports on the Sunshine Coast.
Our nurses Stephni and Rickie are also trained to perform ear microsuction.
Please call reception to book this service.
Emma
Emma graduated from the University of Tasmania in 2009 and has subsequently worked within a range of clinical specialities. She obtained post-graduate certificate in Anaesthetic Nursing in 2012 and is currently enjoying translating her skills and knowledge into the General Practice setting. She has been working at Ochre Medical Centre Hobart since September 2021.
Mike
Registered Nurse
As a late comer to nursing Mike started his nursing career working at a hospital in Sydney. Preferring to provide long-term care to patients he moved into primary healthcare again in Sydney before packing bags and moving to the United States for 5 years. In the US he worked again in primary healthcare for a large healthcare provider. Mike was introduced to ear suctioning whilst in the US and quickly discovered why it is the gold standard of care for wax removal. He feels fortunate to have trained (in Australia) to perform ear microsuctioning and is proud to be able to offer this service to patients – especially when observing the relief a patient feels when they can hear properly again!
Susan (Eddie)
Registered Nurse
Susan (Eddie) is a Primary Health Care Nurse and Authorised Nurse Immuniser and her passion is in delivering continuity of care to patients in her local community to improve health outcomes. Being able to provide extra skills such as removing ear wax through microsuction ensures that patients in our community can stay up on the range for speciality healthcare services.
Tegan
Tegan has been an Enrolled Nurse since 2018 and has been working at Ochre Medical Centre Hobart since August 2021. She has a background in surgical nursing and has most recently been working in Aged Care. She enjoys working with the range of patients who present to the General Practice environment and aims to make each interaction enjoyable for her patients. She also has a special interest in wound care.