Children's Ear Wax Removal – Safe Microsuction by Qualified Audiologist
Safe & Quick Earwax Removal
I offer ear wax removal for children from a developmental age of 3 at my clinic in Leamington Spa. I am registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and I use the same methods for children as I do for adults: microsuction or irrigation, chosen once I have examined your child’s ears.
A blocked ear can be worrying for a child, and for the parent watching them struggle to hear. On this page I explain which children I can see, when wax removal is needed, what happens at the appointment and how you can prepare.
Our Child Earwax Removal Process
Which aged children can I see?
I see children from a developmental age of 3. Developmental age reflects how a child understands and copes with new situations, and it can differ from their age in years. Ear wax removal needs a child to sit still and cooperate with the examination, which is why I use it as my starting point.
If your child is younger than this, please speak to your GP or pharmacist about the best next step. If you are unsure whether your child is ready, get in touch before booking and we can talk it through.
What happens at the appointment?
I begin by looking inside your child’s ear canals with an otoscope, so I can see what is going on before I decide on the right approach. I explain what I am seeing and why I recommend a particular method, so you know what to expect at each step.
Microsuction uses gentle suction rather than water. Irrigation uses a controlled flow of water to clear the canal. The right choice depends on your child’s ear health history, including whether they have ever had a perforated eardrum or ear surgery.
Your child will need to stay still while I work. Some children find the treatment uncomfortable if the wax is hard or there is a lot of it. If I think softening drops would help, I may ask you to use them for a few days and book your child back in once the wax has loosened. If something other than wax needs attention, I will explain what I have found and suggest the right next step.
How can I prepare my child?
A little preparation helps the appointment go smoothly. Explain to your child in simple terms that someone will be looking in their ears and cleaning them, and that they will need to sit still. Tell me beforehand about any history of ear problems, such as ear surgery or a perforated eardrum. If I have asked you to use softening drops, start them as directed.
Does my child need their ear wax removed?
Often they do not. Ear wax is made naturally and helps to protect the ear canal, and young children in particular tend to produce a lot of it. Most of the time it works its way out of the ear without any help.
Wax becomes a problem when it builds up enough to block the ear canal. The signs include a blocked feeling in the ear, ringing, earache and difficulty hearing. If your child shows these signs, an examination will show whether wax is the cause.
Ear pain is less likely to be caused by wax. If your child is in a lot of pain, contact your GP or call NHS 111. A sudden change in hearing that does not seem to be caused by wax should also be checked by your GP.
What should I avoid doing at home?
Please do not put anything into your child’s ear canal. Cotton buds and hair grips push wax further in, can injure the delicate skin of the canal and risk making a hole in the eardrum. If you can see wax at the entrance to the ear, wipe it away with a damp flannel or a tissue and leave the inside of the ear alone.
Softening drops from a pharmacy can help with wax build-up. Ask your pharmacist which ones suit your child before you start.
Why CQC registration matters
I am registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the body that regulates health and social care services in England. CQC’s position is that ear wax removal is a regulated activity when a listed healthcare professional carries it out after agreeing with the patient that there is a problem needing treatment. Providers in that position must register. You can check any provider’s registration on the CQC website.
Where I see families
My clinic is in Leamington Spa, and I see families from Warwick, Kenilworth, Stratford-upon-Avon and Southam as well as Leamington Spa itself.
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