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General Medical Clinics Ltd. Registered Office 242 Marylebone Road, London NW1 6JL. Tel 020 7427 0605

Earwax (cerumen) forms a protective coating of the skin in the ear. It is produced constantly, and small flakes or crusts of earwax will naturally come out of the ear.

The quantity of earwax made varies greatly from person to person and for many people, the wax forms a blockage or ‘plug’ in their ear canal. This will often cause dulled or ‘muffled’ hearing and in some cases, it can also cause a ringing in the ear (tinnitus) or a kind of dizziness caused by a sense of imbalance, something like vertigo.

WHAT IS EAR IRRIGATION?

When a simple treatment such as ear drops hasn’t dislodged the wax and cleared the ear, the solution is usually ear ‘irrigation’. This is a straightforward procedure where water at body temperature is injected into the ear through a purpose-made machine which controls the water pressure precisely to ensure that the ear can’t be damaged.   Under the gentle force of the water, the ear wax is softened and dislodged and the wax is carried out of the ear. This is why the term ‘irrigation’ is used, as opposed to ‘syringing’ which is a different and outdated method by which the cerumen was literally syringed from the ear.

Irrigation is surprisingly commonplace – as many as a million people have their ears irrigated each year in the UK.  Under the hands of a trained practitioner, the procedure is both safe and painless.

We always advise that you treat the affected ear with a few drops of warm olive oil twice a day for 2-3 days before irrigation, as this aids the process greatly. If you can lie with the affected ear uppermost for five minutes or so each time you do this, then the process is made even easier.

We offer a quick, convenient ear irrigation service carried out by highly experienced practitioners either by appointment or on a walk-in basis. Walk-in patients rarely need to wait more than ten minutes or so, and the practitioner will assess if irrigation is the best solution for you before proceeding.
Please note that ear irrigation is not appropriate if:

• You have had any ear surgery (apart from grommets which had come out at least 18 months beforehand)
• Have a perforated ear drum or a cleft palate (even if it has been repaired)
• You have suffered any complications from irrigation in the past
• Have or have had an ear infection in the preceding two months
• Have recurring or persistent infections of the ear canal

If you need any further information or advice on Ear Irrigation whatsover, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0207 510 0300 or via our contact form.

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Diagram showing the ear canal. Earwax (cerumen) is produced naturally and protects the skin in the ear. However many people produce too much, and this can lead to blocked ears, impairing hearing and increasing the risk of infection.

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