Everything You Need to Know About Wax Removal

Author: Kirsten Ellis
Published: August 04, 2016
Last reviewed by: Leightons Clinical Team
Last reviewed: February 02, 2026

Ear wax – it’s not glamorous, but it does need some consideration. Ear wax, or cerumen, is a natural secretion that helps to keep the ear canal clean. However, it can accumulate and cause a blockage, which may lead to you experiencing a temporary hearing loss as sound cannot easily travel through to the inner ear. Luckily, the issue can be easily addressed.

Waxing lyrical

Ear wax is a yellowish substance secreted in the ear canal, and is made up of oily secretions, old skin cells and dust. It keeps the ear canal lubricated and clean by trapping small particles, bacteria and other foreign objects, preventing them from reaching (and potentially damaging) the eardrum. Due to its moist, sticky texture, it also helps to moisturise the skin in your ear.

Don’t try DIY

Normally wax naturally works its way out of the ear, taking any trapped dust and debris with it, so our ears are actually self-cleaning! However, sometimes the wax can be pushed deep within the ear canal, causing a blockage and subsequent difficulty in hearing. Apart from a noticeable hearing loss, ear wax can also cause itching, dizziness, ringing and occasionally even pain.

One of the common causes of such a blockage is the use of cotton buds, as these only clean the superficial wax, pushing the rest deeper into the ear canal. Similarly, you should not use paper clips, hairpins or other items to try to remove wax yourself – the ear is an extremely sensitive, delicate organ so a slight slip could cause long-term damage.

What you can do

Ear wax should only ever be removed by a fully-trained professional. Leightons’ experienced audiologists use the latest technology to assess your hearing, and can remove any wax that may be obstructing your ear canal. It may occasionally be the case that ear drops need to be used for a brief period before removal to help soften the wax, although your audiologist will advise of this prior to your appointment.

Wax is removed using one of the following methods:

Manual removal

  • Uses an instrument called a Jobson horn, which is a long and thin with a hoop or spoon-shaped tip
  • Suitable when the wax build-up is small and accumulated near the ear canal entrance

Water irrigation

  • It involves the use of water to gently dislodge and flush out the earwax, and is safer than the previously used ‘syringing’ method
  • Useful when the wax build-up is larger and further into the ear canal
Microsuction
  • Is a safe, precise method of ear-wax removal that uses a small medical suction device under direct vision (usually with a microscope).
  • It’s typically quick and comfortable, and doesn’t involve flushing the ear with water.

Call us today

At Leightons Opticians and Hearing Care, we offer a wax removal service that is gentle and effective, carried out by experts. Ear Wax Removal costs £70 for both ears.

For more information or to book an appointment, call us on 0800 40 20 20 or visit your nearest branch.

You may also like

Group of adults socializing and enjoying drinks together at an outdoor evening gathering with string lights and food on the table.
How do hearing amplifiers work?
Hearing amplification devices increase the volume and might make it easier for you to hear sounds louder. Yet they not a prescribed product and do not match your individual needs. Hearing loss is extremely common – millions of people in the UK live with a hearing loss, so you’re not alone. At Leightons Opticians & Hearing Care, our expert audiologists will help you identify the best device for you, in most cases this is a Hearing Aid. What is a hearing amplifier? Much like a tiny PA system, hearing amplification devices use microphones to capture and amplify all sounds around you, before delivering it to your ear at an adequate and audible volume level. What kind of devices are available? There are plenty of hearing amplifiers designed to help you while on the telephone, watching TV, and for in-person conversations. However, these devices amplify all sounds equally and aren’t designed to support hearing loss. For an all‑round solution that adapts to your personal hearing needs, a hearing aid is often the most effective option. Our expert audiologists can assess your hearing and guide you towards the most suitable hearing aid for your lifestyle and needs. What’s the difference between a hearing aid and a hearing amplifier? All hearing aids use amplification, however, hearing aids are regulated medical devices carefully programmed and tailored to fit the hearing loss of a particular individual. This makes them more suitable for moderate to severe hearing loss. Hearing amplifiers are not medical devices and are not designed to diagnose, treat or manage hearing loss. They don’t adapt to your individual needs, meaning they offer volume without improving clarity or understanding. What are induction loops? An induction loop is an older technology system designed to help hearing aid users to hear more clearly in some specific environments. You’ll often find them in places like meeting rooms, theatres, banks, and cinemas.  Here’s how it works:  A thin cable is installed around a room or designated listening area  The system creates a magnetic field that carries speech or important sound  When you switch your hearing aid or ALDs to the T (telecoil) setting, you can hear the sound closer to you and more clear with less background noise  Induction loops can make a huge difference to day‑to‑day listening comfort. Our audiologists can help you understand how loops - and other assistive listening devices - can work with Hearing Aids.  What is Auracast? Auracast is a new Bluetooth audio technology designed to make listening more inclusive. It allows one device to broadcast high-quality sound to multiple compatible hearing aids, earbuds, or headphones at the same time, without the need for pairing. Developed with the hearing aid industry for assistive listening, Auracast could mean easier access to shared audio in public spaces such as train stations and lecture theatres. For people with hearing loss, it’s a positive step towards clearer sound and greater confidence in everyday situations. Leightons free hearing test Leightons Opticians & Hearing Care offers a free hearing test in all branches. We provide a comprehensive hearing check carried out by our experts – professionally trained hearing aid audiologists registered with the HCPC (Health & Care Professions Council), with some even members of the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists. Book your free hearing test now You can book an appointment online or you can call us on 0800 40 20 20 to arrange a free hearing test at your nearest Leightons branch. Alternatively, you can take the test at home. This involves the same experienced, professional audiologist you would see in branch coming to your home to carry out your hearing test with specialist portable equipment.
Learn more
Right Arrow
Navigation Previous
Navigation Next