Why Glasgow audiologists no longer recommend ear syringing and what to do instead
Are you planning to have your ear syringed? STOP NOW!
When people inquire about private ear syringing at our Glasgow walk-in clinic, they discover it’s no longer available on the NHS. This is because ear syringing is no longer recommended as a method of ear wax removal in Glasgow and the UK.
Ear syringing has been linked to increased ear infections, eardrum perforations, and trauma to the ear canal. Some patients with blocked ears have often complained that even after undergoing the ear syringing procedure at a private clinic, their ears were still blocked.
Here’s why ear syringing is no longer recommended
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines sheds more light on the different side effects of using a syringe to clean your ear. The procedure has:
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29% ear wax removal failure rate.
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17% chance for middle ear (otitis media) infection.
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15% chance for ear drum perforation.
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11% chance for trauma to the external auditory meatus (ear canal).
This shows that ear syringing, in most cases, could cause more harm than good.
How should you clean your ears instead?
It’s important to note that you should not attempt to clean your ears by yourself. In most cases, you will push the wax further down the ear canal and risk perforating your ear drum.
NICE advises that all ear wax removal clinics use suction devices or electronic irrigators. In all cases, the clinician is responsible for ensuring there are no contraindications for the ear cleaning procedure.
Although ear syringing at private ear clinics costs around £85, reliable procedures for ear wax removal cost just about the same price. If you are in Glasglow or its surrounding towns, you can book a same-day ear wax removal appointment. Otherwise, find an earwax removal clinic closest to you here.
