How to prepare your ears for irrigation (syringing)
After your ears have been inspected by your nurse, you will be advised to apply olive oil drops to the affected ear/ears to help soften the wax. Olive oil drops can be bought over the counter.
Do not attempt to heat the olive oil prior to use.
• Lie down on your side with your affected ear upwards.
• Gently pull your ear backwards and upwards (as pictured). Using a dropper put two drops of olive oil into your ear canal and gently massage the area in front of the ear.
• Stay in this position with your head tilted upwards for 10-15 minutes.
• Do not place cotton wool or cotton wool buds into your ear canal.
• Repeat this procedure for your other ear if both ears are affected.
• Treatment for up to 2 weeks is usually sufficient to soften ear wax.
• For Hearing Aid users, put one drop into both of your ears at night, for 5 nights for maximum benefit prior to ear irrigation.
A small amount of wax is normal in the ear canal. It is only when there is an accumulation of wax that removal may be necessary. Correctly applying olive oil to the ear can help to clear the ear of the wax and, in many cases, this treatment can avoid the need for unnecessary ear syringing.
Please inform your nurse prior to irrigation if you have experienced any of the following:
• Any complications following previous irrigation
• Middle ear infection in the last 6 weeks
• Any ear surgery
• Perforated ear drum
• Discharge from the ear in the last 12 months
Immediate advice to patients post procedure
Keep your ears dry for a few days, especially when bathing or swimming. This will minimise any potential risk of infection.
If you should experience any pain, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), or discharge from your ears, please contact the Community Frailty Service on 01253 951400, or your GP surgery.
Following irrigation, if you are prone to excess ear wax, we suggest you practice the following self-care for your ears:
• Put two drops of olive oil into each ear once or twice a week. This will help to prevent future build-up of wax and keep your ears healthy.
• Try to keep your ears dry, especially when washing your hair. Shampoo may irritate your ear canal.
• Never run the water from the shower directly into your ear.
• Never lie in the bath water to wash your hair.
• Never use cotton wool buds or other foreign bodies to clean inside your ears. This can cause injury inside your ear and it can also push the wax further into your ear canal.
• Do not ignore any problems with your ear.
• If you had irrigation because you are having difficulty hearing and your hearing doesn’t improve following wax removal, please speak to your community frailty nurse or GP.
