As many of you will be aware getting troublesome ear wax removed through your GP is no longer an option.
Professional ear wax removal is a skilled procedure. If it is not done correctly, it can damage your ear canal, ear drum and even cause hearing loss. Experienced professionals will also be on the lookout for other things such as skin cancer, or life-threatening growths in your ear canal.
Traditionally only people with experience in ear care carried out this procedure, such as audiologists, ENT (ear, nose and throat) professionals, doctors, or nurse practitioners.
Unfortunately, the regulations that should restrict the provision of this service are not as robust as they should be.
The demand for ear wax removal services is high, and the lack of regulation has now led some people seeing this as a profit-making opportunity.
Members of the public with no previous experience can access two-day training courses, purchase some basic equipment, and set themselves up in business as an ear wax removal practitioner.
In essence a vehicle mechanic could decide one day that they no longer like fixing cars, do a two-day course and the very next day start removing ear wax from people’s ears.
To say this situation is shocking is an understatement.
Audiologists in Wales have been trying to get the government to tighten up the regulations. However, nothing has changed.
At Valley Hearing Ltd in Caerphilly, we have seen too many cases where people have had damage caused to their ears or paid for wax removal which wasn’t completely removed.
We would urge anyone that is accessing private ear wax removal services to ensure they are getting treated by an experienced, suitably qualified professional (such as an audiologist) before allowing just anyone to perform this delicate procedure.
• For more information visit ValleyHearing.co.uk or call Jon on 07824043395.
