Things to note about safety

Give us a call to speak to an audiologist before your appointment if you’ve experienced any of the following:

• Any pain within the last 90 days
• Any middle ear infections within the last 90 days
• Any current or recurrent ear infection
• Any past operations in or around the ear
• Suspect you have any foreign bodies in the ear canal
• Suspect you have a perforated eardrum
• Any fluid or discharge from inside your ear within the last 90 days.

If you’re not sure you have wax in your ears, give your store a call for a triage appointment first.

Please do not come into store if you, or anyone in your household:

• Are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19
• Are required to isolate after travelling
• Have been contacted from NHS Test and Trace

During your appointment, you might be required to wear a mask to reduce any risk of transmission.

Softening the wax for your appointment

It may take more than one attempt to remove your wax. It’s important that the wax has been softened to make the procedure as comfortable and effective as possible – so to prepare for your appointment, we’d recommend using olive oil to soften it.

A spray known as Earol is ideal for this. Read the instructions leaflet carefully and use for 7-10 days between 2-4 times daily before your appointment. Other sprays or drops are not always suitable and may prevent us from being able to carry out the removal.

Your ears might feel more blocked up after using olive oil and might reduce your hearing – this is because the wax will soak up the oil.

If you wear hearing aids, avoid wearing them after you put olive oil in your ears as you could damage your hearing aids (which wouldn’t be covered by your warranty).

If you experience a foul taste after using olive oil, stop using it as this might be a sign that there is a hole in your eardrum. If this happens, get in touch with your GP and let us know.

For some people, olive oil use might cause some mild discomfort or irritation. If you have any doubts or concerns, just give us a call or speak to your GP or pharmacist.