For Children:
The ear clinic is a little bit like going to your doctor's surgery - except that we concentrate just on your ears. We look inside each ear to see if there is too much ear wax (the yellowy/browny stuff) in your ear canal and if it's blocking your ear.
Everyone has ear wax - it's normal and it helps to protect your ears from dirt and germs. But sometimes ear wax can build up in the ear and this can cause your ears to feel 'blocked'. It could be one ear affected or both ears.
You might be coming to see us in the ear clinic because you haven't been able to hear everything your teacher has been saying at school lately. Or maybe it's because your ears have been feeling a bit weird or itchy, especially after swimming. Sometimes, you can feel a bit dizzy if your ears are blocked up with ear wax.
Your Clear Ear experience actually starts a couple days before you attend, this includes
Your parent/carer will put some ear wax softener (usually ear olive oil) in your ears for a few days before you come to the clinic. Sometimes your ears can feel a bit more 'muffled' once the ear oil starts going in - don't worry this will go away. This is completely painless and just helps to soften the ear wax for an easy and more complete cleaning.
Then, for your appointment
When you arrive on the day you will sit for a short while in the waiting room - on the wall is a large Where's Wally poster (no one yet has been able to find Wizard Whitebeard!! - if you want to have a go!)
After a short while Linda the nurse will call you into the treatment room and ask you a few easy questions about your ears. Your mum/dad/carer will stay with you at all times
Linda will have a look inside each ear and take some photos
If you want to, you can see the photos of the inside of your ear and ask any questions
If your ear/ears are blocked with wax and you have been softening the ear wax for a few days with drops or a spray, Linda can try and get the wax out
Linda uses a small tube that sucks the wax out of your ear - it's a bit like a mini vacuum cleaner. She will show you the little tube before she starts and rest it on the back of your hand, just so you can see and feel how gentle it is. When the tube is in your ear it's a bit noisy but it doesn't hurt
Linda will ask you to keep your head as still as you can while the tube is in your ear.
When the wax is out of your ear, you may find that you can hear better straight away. Linda will look inside your ear again before you leave to check the ear is no longer blocked with wax.
Your ears may block up again in the future because we are always making ear wax. You can come back to the clinic any time for an ear check or if your ears are feeling muffled or blocked.
And that's it!
We love questions so if you have any on the day - ask away!
For the Parent/Carer:
Micro-suction is generally performed on children over the age of 5 years as they are required to keep their head still during treatment. The Bournemouth Clear Ear Clinic is insured to treat children from aged 5 years and upwards.
The clinic's nurse practitioner is qualified and experienced to treat children at the ear clinic from the age of 5 years upwards.
All children and young people under the age of 18 should have consulted their GP/ACP at their surgery before attending the ear clinic, if they have pain or discomfort in either ear.
Children and young people under the age of 16 are required to attend the clinic with their parent (or guardian). The parent (or guardian) will accompany their child at all times during their visit/treatment at the ear clinic. Parental (or guardian) consent to treatment (ear micro-suction) is required before ear micro-suction treatment can commence. The clinician will cease ear micro-suction treatment if the child or young person is unable to keep their head still for the treatment.BCEC has taken guidance and recommendations for ear wax removal for children and young people, from the following sources:
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