How to tell if it's wax
Earwax (cerumen, if we're being technical) is what your ear canal does on purpose. It traps dust, slows down bacteria, and slowly migrates outward by itself. The problem starts when it builds up faster than it can clear, which is common in older adults, hearing-aid users, anyone who uses earbuds a lot, and people who've been told repeatedly to "stop using cotton buds" (sorry).
The classic signs:
- Hearing that's gone dull, muffled or feels "underwater"
- A sense of fullness or pressure, often only on one side
- Earache that comes and goes without an infection
- Ringing (tinnitus) that wasn't there last week
- Sometimes a faint dizziness or off-balance feeling
If those symptoms came on gradually and you've not been unwell, wax is the most likely cause. If they came on suddenly with severe pain, fever, or discharge, that's a different conversation, so see a clinician.
What to try at home first
The single best home remedy is also the simplest: olive-oil drops, twice a day, for five to seven days. You can buy them in any pharmacy (including ours) for a couple of pounds. They soften the wax so your ear can clear it naturally, or so a microsuction appointment is faster and more comfortable if you still need one.
What not to do:
- No cotton buds. They push more wax in than they take out, and they irritate the canal lining
- No ear candles. They don't work, and the wax you find afterwards is candle residue, not earwax
- No ear syringing with a bulb at home if you've had ear surgery, a perforated drum, or recurrent infections
If five to seven days of olive-oil drops haven't shifted it, your ear is ready for microsuction, so don't keep persevering with drops for another month.
When to come in
Book a microsuction appointment if:
- Drops haven't worked after a week
- Your hearing aids are whistling or feel uncomfortable
- You have an event coming up (interview, performance, important meeting) and want it sorted today
- You've used wax-removal services before and know your ears tend to build up
The appointment itself takes about 15 minutes. We look in each ear with an otoscope first, confirm wax is the issue and check it's safe to proceed, then use a low-pressure suction device under direct vision. Most people hear the difference immediately on the way out.
The honest version of cost
NHS ear-wax removal is no longer routinely funded in most parts of England, including Derbyshire. That's why private microsuction has grown so much. Our pricing is straightforward:
- £45 for one ear
- £60 for both
- Money back if we look in and decide microsuction isn't safe or isn't the right answer that day
Book or just walk in
If you'd rather have a time, you can book a microsuction slot online. If you're nearby, walk in and we'll fit you in around bookings where we can. Either way, the appointment is in our private consultation room, never at the counter.
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