Endoscopic Ear Wax Removal Training
Our Director and Head Audiologist, Chris Carr, recently attended the Clearwax Endoscopic Ear Care Training Course in Leicester. This course allows qualified and registered ear professionals the opportunity to be trained and accredited in performing endoscopic ear wax removal, including e-suction, using their specially developed wireless iCLEARscope video oto-endoscope. Since taking the course, Hearing Healthcare Centre are pleased to announce that we will be using the wireless iCLEARscope video oto-endoscope to perform endoscopic ear wax removals.
This new and innovative technique of removing ear wax offers many benefits over alternative and more traditional methods such as ear syringing and ear irrigation. In addition, the removal of ear wax visualised through an endoscope was found to be significantly quicker, more comfortable and easier to perform compared to an ENT microscope, which is typically used for Microsuction, when the two were compared in a clinical study.
What Is It & How Is It Performed?
An oto-endoscope is a long, thin tube that has a light and camera at one end which allows us to look deep into the ear. Endoscopic ear wax removal is when ear wax is removed from the ear with the help of an endoscope. The oto-endoscope aids the process of wax removal because it allows us to directly visualise the wax whilst it is being removed using microsuction and other micro-instruments.
The iCLEARscope combines the oto-endoscope with a viewing monitor for easy viewing. The tip of this light-weight video oto-endoscope is placed into the ear canal opening to provide a high-definition (HD) and wide ‘panoramic’ view of the entire ear canal and ear drum to facilitate effective ear wax removal.
Endoscopic ear wax removal typically takes between 15 to 30 minutes to perform. This can vary depending on the amount and type of of ear wax and how deep the ear wax is inside the ear canal.
To see an endoscopic ear wax removal, click here.
The Benefits
With endoscopic ear wax removal, the ear wax is being directly viewed with the endoscope whilst it is being removed. This is unlike ear syringing or ear irrigation, where ear wax is flushed out ‘blindly’. Therefore, this makes the procedure much quicker, safer and comfortable for the patient. Other benefits of endoscopic ear wax removal and microsuction include:
- A much wider view of the ear canal and eardrum compared to a microscope.
- No water is being flushed into the ear canal like for ear syringing or ear irrigation. Instead the procedure is performed ‘dry’, significantly reducing the risk of infection and accidentally ‘pumping’ ear wax deeper into the ear canal.
- Unlike ear syringing and ear irrigation, it can be performed in people who have a perforated eardrum or grommet, mastoid cavity and cleft palate, in addition to any foreign object (e.g. children’s marble) that may be lodged inside the ear canal.
