Cotton buds are not meant for cleaning ears. They can push wax further into the canal and may cause injury to your ear drum. Most ear canals are not straight and often have twists and bends, so imagine shoving a straight earbud without line of sight into your canal. If not careful, earbuds can dislodge and get stuck in the ear, or wax could be pushed into a corner of your ear canal where it could build up further and/or incur an infection.
Ear candles are still sold in Australia, but we don’t recommend them. They can obstruct your ear canal, and perforate your eardrum. There has been a lot of scientific studies evidently saying that the wax from ear candling is mostly candle wax and not the earwax itself. Ear candling is a holistic approach and not recognised as a safe technique or approach to removing excessive wax in the ears.
No, you should not try to stick anything that is smaller than your elbow in your ears. No to toothpicks, paperclips, pins, pencil tips, bobby pins. We’ve seen a few cases in our clinical days, and the post-outcomes are not nice.
Wax is a natural build-up in one’s ears and is designed to protect your ears from dirt, debris and foreign bodies or objects. A little amount of wax is healthy for your ears. When you try to remove the wax, you are removing a layer of protection. The more you remove, the more the ear would produce. Overtime, this is also traumatising the ear and can cause greater ear sensitivity.
Some people do get excessive wax in their ears, sometimes one ear more than the other. It is known that some people are more prone to wax, possible due to:
Excessive wax can be associated with symptoms such as:
If you experience any of the above symptoms, you may have excessive or impacted wax. It would be advisable to consult your doctor, nurse, or audiologist, to have a look at your ears to exclude wax impaction, and assist with wax removal.
Irrigation, water squirting, ear syringing or ear flushing is the most common technique used for wax removal at the GPs, typically performed by squirting ungodly amounts of water into the ear, to dislodge wax. Today, ear syringing is a much more refined process, using just the right amount of water to remove wax, without risking damage to the ear. Modern ear syringing is safe, but as with most medical procedures, there are risks. These include the risk of ear infection (the most common risk), a perforated eardrum, vertigo, and temporary deafness.
Common side effects of ear syringing include temporary dizziness, discomfort or pain, and tinnitus. Based on the above, this technique is now slowly being de-serviced due to these risks, and also, as the safest treatment of ear wax removal via microsuction becomes more readily available.
The term earwax, or cerumen comes from its sticky, waxy texture. It consists of skin cells, sweat, dirt, and a natural body oil called sebum.
Earwax is produced by your ears to clean and protect themselves. It helps trap dust and particles that could harm deeper structures like your eardrum.
Earwax can be wet or dry and may vary in colour depending on factors such as environment, diet, and how long it's been in the ear. It naturally works its way out of the ear.
Insufficient earwax can cause itchy ears, while excessive buildup can lead to blockages, affecting hearing, causing tinnitus, dizziness, and earaches. This is more common in individuals who frequently use hearing aids, earbuds, or earplugs, as the ear deems it a foreign body, trying to protect its ear structures.
Ear Microsuction is the safest, most gentle, cleanest and quickest way / technique to cleaning out your ears, free from wax.
It is comfortable and convenient, minimising the risks associated with traditional methods of ear wax removal.
Some of our clients describe this technique as like a gentle vacuum for your ears.
Microsuction is a dry technique and does not rely on the use of water to clean your ears (irrigation). The irrigation method is known to have a risk of eardrum perforation and may need more regular trips for more impacted wax. The microsuction technique prevents the ear canal and drum being exposed to moisture. This technique is suitable for all, and can be particularly helpful to those with a perforated eardrum or grommets, diabetics, those who have a depressed immune system, are taking blood thinners, or have a current ear infection.
For those whose eardrums are perforated or if discharge is present.
For those who experience any pain or dizziness or if ear surgery has been performed within the past six weeks.
For those who have had the treatment of pain of raw, inflamed tissue, swimmer’s ear or itching of the ear canal.
We recommend having a check approximately every 8 months on average post your initial microsuction visit.
For some, your follow-up visit may be earlier due to the amount of wax your ears produce.
If the wax is soft enough, it can take anywhere from 20 minutes to free wax for adults and 30 minutes for children.
The procedure should not hurt. The clinician will be guiding you through the whole process and thoroughly explaining the procedure. You will be informed ahead of each step.
Occasionally, people may experience mild discomfort due to the noise of the pump and during removal of very impacted wax. If mild dizziness may be experienced, the clinician will stop the suction to allow the dizziness to settle.
About 98% of the time.
We always recommend softening the wax prior to your appointment, by using the Clean Ears wax spray available from the Chemist or your local pharmacy at approximately $14 - $15.
It is recommended that you use ear drops / an ear wax removal spray to soften the earwax 3-5 days prior to your clinician’s arrival.
We highly recommend the Clean Ears wax spray that you can obtain from the chemist or from us when you visit at your appointment. This spray has natural ingredients and safe for kids and adults to use. Some drops are more oily and may not dissolve the wax as effectively, and could also leave more residue.
If you had accidentally stuck something in your ear (i.e. a pin or an insect that has flown into your ear), please ring 000 or go to the closest emergency department at the hospital.
Regardless of one or two ears, our standard service rates apply as per our pricing.
Microsuction ear wax removal and custom ear plugs are not covered by Medicare. However, if you have Audiology extras with your private health insurance, you may be able to claim a portion of the cost under an Audiology consult — we recommend checking with your health fund directly (Item 904).
If you experience ongoing ear conditions such as exostoses, frequent ear infections, or require regular ear wax removal due to a chronic ear issue, you may be eligible for a Chronic Disease Management Plan (MBS Item 10952) through your GP. This allows you to claim a portion of the cost for microsuction under Medicare when referred by your doctor.
For pediatric hearing assessments (ages 4–18), you can claim a Medicare rebate — but a referral from your GP or specialist is required. Standard GP referrals or care plans that include audiology are eligible for partial rebates.
We accept exact cash payments, bank transfers, and credit cards (including Amex). No surcharges apply to credit card transactions.
Yes, we provide ear wax removal services for children as young as 5 years old.
A discussion with our friendly team is recommended prior to booking. For safety reasons, children need to be able to follow directions and keep reasonably still.
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In Australia, the general position is that a person under 18 years of age is legally regarded as a minor.
Our policy is that any teenager under 18 years must be accompanied by a parent or authorised carer who can provide parental consent for treatment. This parent/authorised carer will be required to complete the questionnaire and consent form, and remain with the child throughout the procedure.
We are a fully mobile wax removal service, providing care in your home, workplace, or your child's school. However, we occasionally rent medical rooms near you, offering the option for you to come to us if preferred.
Yes — we provide hearing assessments for children aged 4 to 18 years.
However, please note that we no longer offer microsuction ear wax removal for children under 5 years old, as younger children may find it difficult to stay still during the procedure. For those aged 5 and above, ear wax removal can be performed if they are able to tolerate the procedure safely.
Duration: The assessment takes approximately 60 minutes, with an additional 15 minutes allocated for case notes and specialist reporting.
We aim to make the experience comfortable, but if a child is unable to cooperate, we may recommend seeing an ENT specialist for further evaluation.
Results are available immediately after the assessment, and a formal report will be provided to your referring doctor or specialist.
No, you must choose one method of claiming. Medicare rebates are available with a GP referral, but if you prefer to use private health insurance, you will need to check your eligibility for rebates. If you have audiology extras, you may check with your health fund using item code 904 to determine your rebate eligibility.
Medicare fees change every year. At current, in 2025, you may get a rebate of up to $53.60, leaving an out-of-pocket cost of approximately $96.40 (this is based on the full test battery if we have conducted the full assessment on the same day).
Yes — we offer home visits for ear wax removal and hearing services. Home visit pricing is $130 concession / $150 private.
A flat rate of $180 applies if your location is more than 20 km or 30 min from any of our clinic sites.
If the Keysborough schedule is full, we can check other nearby locations such as
We’ll always do our best to help if we have clinician availability.
If we are closed:
If you can't use drops or spray, the clinician will still attempt to remove wax.
If the wax is very hard, a prescribed wax softener from your GP or ENT specialist may be needed prior to your appointment.
While most clients are cleared in one visit, some ears with very hard or deep wax, narrow or curved canals, or prolonged buildup may require a second appointment. Our clinicians will always aim to be thorough and safe.
Yes! We recommend using a wax softener or spray for at least 3–5 days before your appointment to help make the removal process easier and more effective. If your booking is very soon, use as much softener as possible beforehand.
We do not bulk bill for microsuction ear wax removal.
Medicare rebates may apply depending on your circumstances and will be advised by your clinician, but not for typical wax removal.
We see clients aged 5 years and older for microsuction.
This varies from person to person and depends on how quickly your ears build up wax.
As a general guide:
Your audiologist will advise the most suitable schedule for you after your appointment.
Experience clear hearing with Suction Ears. Our expert microsuction provides safe, gentle, and effective ear cleaning.
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KEYSBOROUGH
Wellbeing Chiropractic,
HomeCo. Shopping Centre,
446 Cheltenham Rd,
Keysborough, VIC 3173
MURRUMBEENA
One Space Health,
133 Murrumbeena Rd.
Murrumbeena, VIC 3163
MITCHAM
Inspire Health & Medical
Shop 2,
339-345 Mitcham Rd, Mitcham, VIC 3132
MENTONE
Mentone GP
66 Balcombe Rd,
Mentone, VIC 3194
RINGWOOD
Wellbeing Chiropractic,
295 Canterbury Road,
Ringwood, VIC 3134