Ear wax

What is ear wax? 

Ear wax is a natural secretion which forms a protective coating on the skin in the ear canal. The quantity of earwax produced varies greatly from person to person.

Before your appointment

To have a hearing assessment your ears must be clear of wax.  

If you are advised by your GP, nurse or audiologist at any point to use a wax softener (olive oil is tolerated by most people), it is recommended to use this 3-4 times daily for 3-5 days before your appointment (as per NICE recommendation). 

2 to 3 drops of pre-treatment wax softeners (i.e. olive oil) should be administered in the affected ear/s and left in place for about 10 minutes. The wax will often come out of its own accord using softeners, without harming the ear. You will not necessarily see wax come out - if often seems to come out unnoticed. 

Do not use drops if you have been told you have a hole in your ear drum (a perforation), mastoid cavity or have another known reason that you should not use ear drops 

Never remove ear wax or clean ears by inserting small objects such as cotton buds into the ear canal. This could damage the ear canal and eardrum, and push the wax further down into the ear. 

If you need to manage your wax, please see Earwax build-up - NHS (www.nhs.uk). There are also local providers who can remove ear wax for a charge. Some can visit you at home if you need them to.