Hearing Assessment:

Hearing assessments and ear wax removal is currently available via the primary care audiology service for all Swansea Bay UHB patients. Contact your GP surgery to arrange an appointment. Your hearing will be assessed and any management or onward referral will be arranged.

Wax removal is currently available via the primary care audiology service for patients of the following surgeries:

Primary Care Audiology:

• Afan Cluster: Afan Valley Group Practice, Swansea Bay UHB Managed Practice (Cwmavon and Cymmer Health Centre), Fairfield Medical Centre, King’s Surgery, Mount Surgery, Riverside Surgery, Cwmavon Health Centre (Dr R Penney), Rosedale Medical Practice.
• Neath Cluster: Briton Ferry Health Centre , Dyfed Road Health Centre, Skewen Medical Centre, Victoria Gardens Surgery, Alfred Street Primary Care Centre, Castle Surgery, Tabernacle Medical Centre, Waterside Medical Practice.
• Cwmtawe Cluster: Cwmtawe Medical Group (including Clydach, New Cross and Sway Road surgeries), Strawberry Place Surgery, Llansamlet Surgery.
• Upper Valleys Cluster: Amman Tawe Partnership, Dulais Valley Primary Care Centre, Pontardawe Primary Care Centre, Vale of Neath Practice.
• Llwchwr Cluster: Estuary Group Practice (including Gowerton Medical Centre, Penclawdd surgery and Penybryn Surgery), Princess Street Surgery, Talybont Surgery, Ty’r Felin Surgery.
• Penderi Cluster (Cwmfelin medical Centre): Brynhyfryd Surgery, Cheriton Medical Centre, Cwmfelin Medical Centre, Fforestfach Medical Group (including Dr Bensusan surgery and Dr Powell Surgery) and Manselton Surgery.
• Bay Health (Beacons centre for health SA1 and Norton Clinic): Gower Medical practice, Kings Road Surgery in Mumbles, Sketty and Killay Medical Centre, St Thomas and West Cross Surgeries, The Grove Medical Centre, University Health Centre, Uplands and Mumbles Surgery.
• City Health (Beacons centre for health SA1): Brunswick Health Centre, Greenhill Medical Centre, Abertawe Medical Partnership, Kingsway Surgery, Mountain View Health Centre, Nicholl Street Medical Centre, SA1 Medical Centre, The Harbourside Health Centre.

Patients registered with these surgeries can make an appointment by contacting their GP surgery.

What is Microsuction?

If you have attempted self management of ear wax and the wax does not come out by itself, you may need the wax removed by microsuction. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends microsuction as the best way to remove wax. It involves a small tube which is used to suction out any wax in your ear. It is advised to use olive oil before microsuction to make the wax easier to remove.

What does Microsuction feel like?

Microsuction can be noisy and sometimes you can feel and hear the wax being removed from your ear. If you experience any discomfort, you can ask to stop at any time. If you have any concerns, please speak to the audiologist before the procedure.

After having the wax removed, your ears may feel different. Your hearing may seem better or you may notice a temporary reduction in your hearing. Tinnitus can also be aggravated temporarily but this should settle in a few days. Some people experience dizziness but this is rare. If you notice any problems, please return to the audiologist for further advice.

Drops and sprays to aid self management of ear wax are available at local supermarkets and pharmacies.

There are no facilities for hearing aid repairs in any of our Primary Care Clinics. Should you have an issue with your hearing aid please contact the main hospital sites.

Please note - unfortunately, the hospital-based audiology service is unable to carry out wax removal.

Hospital based Audiology locations

• Singleton Hospital - Sketty Road, Swansea, SA2 8QA

• Neath Port Talbot Hospital - Baglan Way, Port Talbot, SA12 7BX

• Gorseinon Hospital - Brynawel Road, Gorseinon, Swansea, SA4 4UU

• Morriston Health Centre - Sway Road, Morriston, Swansea, SA6 6JA

Self management of ear wax

What to do about wax build up:

If ear wax is not causing you any problems, it is best left alone. The ear is self cleaning and often the wax will come out without you needing to do anything.

Sometimes ear wax can build up enough to cause hearing loss and other problems. Wax build up is more likely to happen to people who naturally have narrow ear canals, people who work in dusty environments, those who need to use ear plugs to protect their hearing at work, and hearing aid users. 

Self help:

The first step in treating problematic ear wax is to soften the wax to see if it comes out by itself.

DO NOT: try to remove with a cotton bud or any other object as this can damage your ear and push the wax further down the ear onto the ear drum, making the problem worse. Using cotton buds, matchsticks or other items to try to clean out the ear canals is one of the most common causes of impacted wax. Using cotton buds or other objects can also damage the ear canal, and can even cause perforation of the ear drum.

DO: use olive oil ear drops once a day for seven days in order to soften wax.

To use ear drops:

1. Allow the olive oil to come to room temperature naturally. Do not heat the oil.
2. Lie on your side with the affected ear facing upwards. Pull the ear gently backwards and upwards to open and straighten the ear canal. This will allow the drops to enter deeper into the ear.
3. Carefully let three droplets of olive oil fall into your ear. You may find it helpful to have somebody help you.
4. Gently massage the area directly in front of the ear.
5. Lie still for at least five minutes to ensure the ear drops have penetrated properly.
6. If you need to treat both ears, turn over onto your other side and repeat the process.

DO NOT insert cotton wool or tissue paper into your ears as this can absorb the oil, leaving the wax dry and hard.