Microsuction Technique and Covid Safety

The microsuction technique uses gentle suction to clean the ear and is much safer and more comfortable than all other forms of ear cleaning, including syringing and irrigation. A small, thin probe is directed at the ear wax and/or infection discharge in the ear canal and gentle suction is applied to remove the blockage. With microsuction, there is no need for pre-treatment, e.g. olive oil or ear drops.

Steps

1

Anyone displaying Covid symptoms whilst at our clinic will be asked to leave and re-book.

2

We will take your temperature when you arrive. You will be asked to leave and re-book if you have a raised temperature or if you refuse to have your temperature taken.

3

If you are not already wearing one, we will provide you with a mandatory surgical mask to wear whilst you are with us. For the clinician’s safety, we will not carry out the procedure if you refuse to wear a mask during the appointment.

4

Safe and socially distanced waiting is possible because our clinics are situated in large buildings. Nevertheless, we kindly request that you attend alone if possible. If you do need to be accompanied, or if you have other specific requirements, e.g. wheelchair access, it is important that you let us know in advance. Our London Bridge clinic is wheelchair accessible.

Ears we've cared for 226592

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Steps

1

Anyone displaying Covid symptoms whilst at our clinic will be asked to leave and re-book.

2

We will take your temperature when you arrive. You will be asked to leave and re-book if you have a raised temperature or if you refuse to have your temperature taken.

3

If you are not already wearing one, we will provide you with a mandatory surgical mask to wear whilst you are with us. For the clinician’s safety, we will not carry out the procedure if you refuse to wear a mask during the appointment.

4

Safe and socially distanced waiting is possible because our clinics are situated in large buildings. Nevertheless, we kindly request that you attend alone if possible. If you do need to be accompanied, or if you have other specific requirements, e.g. wheelchair access, it is important that you let us know in advance. Our London Bridge clinic is wheelchair accessible.

State-of-the-art Equipment

To increase the safety and comfort of your experience, Hearology only uses ENT surgical binocular microscopes. Microscopes of this specification provide the in-depth awareness our specialists need to work with absolute precision within the tiny space of the ear canal. Most other ear cleaning clinics only use magnifying goggles, which provide less accuracy during the procedure because of their inferior magnification and lack of 3D vision.

We are also one of the few to use ENT-grade suction units, which provide quiet, safe, controlled suction superior to the portable suction units typically used. We only use sterile, single-use tubes and sterile, single-use suction tips.

  • The Hearology Way

  • The Hearology Way

We are open longer and on more days

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Hearology's Services

  • £89

    Microsuction Ear Cleaning Service

    15 mins

  • £89

    Ear Health Consultation

    15 mins

  • £129

    Aural Foreign Body Removal

    15 mins

  • £199

    Paediatric Ear Cleaning (aged 3 - 12)

    30 mins

  • £89

    Paediatric Ear Cleaning (aged 13 - 17)

    15 mins

  • £89

    Paediatric Earth Health Consultation (aged 13 - 17)

    15 mins

  • £199

    Paediatric Aural Foreign Body Removal (aged 3 - 12)

    30 mins

  • £129

    Paediatric Aural Foreign Body Removal (aged 13 - 17)

    15

  • £FoC

    Hearing Screening

    30 mins

  • £25

    Video Hearing Test

    45 mins

  • £99

    Diagnostic Hearing Test

    60 mins

  • £129

    Tinnitus Assessment

    90 mins

  • £160

    Balance Programme

    75 mins

Please note that if there is no blockage to clear, we do not offer a reduced, ‘consultation only’ price because it is important that the causes of the perceived blockage are investigated. We carry out this investigation with our Ear Health Consultation service, the price of which remains at £89.

If it is not possible to clean the ear completely at the first sitting, e.g. if there is stubborn wax or if the ear canal is sensitive, then you can come back to see us for free follow-up appointments until the job is done – as long as these appointments take place within two weeks of the original appointment.

All our prices are the same if one or both ears are treated. We do not offer a ‘single ear only’ price because we set up our ear cleaning appointments (including clinic time) based on the likelihood that both ears will need cleaning – even if only one feels blocked. Sometimes it really is only one ear that needs cleaning, however, at Hearology, this will not result in a reduced price being charged.

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If There’s No Microscope, Then It’s Not Microsuction

The microsuction technique derives its name from the use of a microscope to carry out the procedure. The use of a microscope is important not just because of the magnification but also because of the depth-of-field awareness it provides. Without this depth-of-field awareness, it is very difficult for the clinician to judge the location of the eardrum. Only by using an ENT-grade microscope is it possible to carry out the microsuction procedure safely, which is why Hearology only uses ENT-grade microscopes – and not, like many others do, magnification goggles.

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0203 747 4615 if you think you have an ear infection

Team

Expert Audiologists, ENT Specialists and Microsuction Pioneers. A distinguished, international team of experts from different fields of ear care and speaking a variety of different languages to ensure that you and your ears receive the best possible care.

  • Vincent Howard

    BSc (Hons), CECP, HCPC

  • Bridget McCubbin

    BSc (Hons), RGN

  • Kenny Hau

    BSc (Hons), MSc (Aud), HCPC

  • Caro Omolaiye

    BSc (Hons), HCPC

  • Simon Harrison

    BCommPath Audiology (Hons), MAud, RCCP, HCPC

  • Bernadette Wilson-Bristol

    BSc (Hons), RN

  • Prina Karia

    BSc (Hons), FdSc Aud, RCCP, HCPC

  • Michael Field

    B.Ed, HCPC

  • Rose Duncan

    BSc (Hons), RN

  • Norani Lucas

    FDSc, HCPC, B.Mus, DipTCL.Mus

  • Kristina Pinterova

    DipHE, RN

  • Stephen Archer

    BSA, RCCP

  • Harry Davidson

    BSc (Hons), MSc, CAC, RCCP

  • Ria Patel

    BSc (Hons), HCPC

  • Setor Acolatse

    MSc, FdSc, PGc, HCPC

  • Mariama Conteh

    DipHE, RN

  • Aida Lopes

    BASLP, RCCP

Vincent Howard is a Health and Care Professions Council-registered Clinical Audiologist with expertise in aural microsuction (including paediatric ear cleaning), hearing and balance, diagnostic hearing assessments and Hearing Aid technology.

Vincent has experience of working in both NHS and private audiology settings and ran Amplifon’s flagship store in High Street Kensington before co-founding Hearology.

Vincent contracted tinnitus from standing too close to the speakers at a Motörhead concert as a teenager and his search for a solution to the ringing sound in his head led him to his career in audiology. As can be seen from Vincent’s many five-star reviews across Hearology’s various review platforms, he has found his true calling!

Bridget McCubbin is a Senior ENT Nurse Practitioner registered with both the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Royal College of Nursing. She has a BSc (Hons) in Professional Practice in Nursing, an ENB Higher Award and an ENB certificate in ENT Nursing.

Bridget has over 26 years of extended ENT experience, which includes managing an ENT operating theatre and an ENT pre-operative assessment clinic as well as significant time spent working in acute ENT care and an NHS urgent referral clinic.

Bridget has worked at Hearology since 2017 and has recently added prescribing for ear infections to her extensive repertoire. Bridget is a highly skilled and caring practitioner and nowhere is this more apparent than in her paediatric work.

Bridget also speaks Igbo (Nigerian).

Kenny Hau is a Health and Care Professions Council-registered Clinical Audiologist with a Master’s in Audiology from Manchester University. He specialises in adult diagnostic hearing assessments, Hearing Aid dispensing and aural microsuction.

Kenny has a number of years of experience in private audiology, having previously worked at Amplifon and Specsavers, as well as internationally at Bay Audiology in New Zealand.

Kenny is highly qualified and also has a very approachable nature, the combination of which makes him well and truly the caring expert that everyone wants when dealing with a medical professional.

Caro Omolaiye is a Health and Care Professions Council-registered Clinical Audiologist with an aural microsuction specialism, including paediatric ear cleaning.

Caro has worked in a variety of NHS and private healthcare settings, including Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, Specsavers and Scrivens.

Caro has a caring style and is extremely patient, as evidenced by her many five-star reviews across Hearology’s various review platforms. These attributes are particularly useful in her paediatric work.

Simon Harrison is a Health and Care Professions Council-registered Clinical Audiologist with a Master’s in Audiology. He has expertise in aural microsuction (including paediatric ear cleaning), hearing and balance, communication pathology and ototoxicity, diagnostic hearing assessments and Hearing Aid technology.

Simon has a number of years of experience in all areas of audiological diagnostics, having previously worked at the Greytown Specialised MDR TB Audiology department in South Africa and at the Berkshire NHS Trust where he provided Hearing Aid rehabilitation services for their adult department, focusing on the management of advanced cases.

Simon joined Hearology in 2017 and is now Hearology’s Clinical Operations Director and CQC Registered Manager, responsible for all safety and quality aspects of our clinical service delivery.

Bernadette Wilson-Bristol qualified with Honours in Nursing and ENT and has 25 years of extended ENT experience.

Bernadette is registered with both the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Royal College of Nursing and was a Sister ENT Practitioner at the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital outreach service at Edgware Community and Finchley Memorial Hospitals.

Sister Bernadette is also a vastly experienced aural microsuction trainer and an expert in paediatric ear care. She has been with us since 2016 and we are very lucky to have her here with us at Hearology.

Prina Karia is a Health and Care Professions Council-registered Clinical Audiologist who graduated as a first-class Bachelor of Science from Anglia Ruskin University. She has worked in a variety of NHS and private healthcare settings, including Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, Specsavers and Boots.

Prina is passionate about changing the lives of those who are becoming reclusive and introverted due to imperfect hearing and her areas of specialism are aural microsuction, dementia care, learning disabilities and sports-related hearing loss.

Prina’s light-hearted nature will instantly put you at ease, which is a very useful attribute for an environment where anxiety can be caused by an actual ENT or audiological issue – or even just the prospect of one.

Prina also speaks Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and Gujarati.

Michael Field is a Health and Care Professions Council-registered Audiologist and Tinnitus Lay Counsellor. His international career to date has spanned 36 years and taken in speech pathology, Hearing Aid dispensing and aural microsuction.

Michael found his vocation as an Audiologist due to his father’s deafness (caused by his time with the 10th Royal Hussars Tank Regiment) and his daughter’s hearing loss resulting from a mastoidectomy.

Michael has been with Hearology since 2015 and is now a Director of the company. He is a resident of Forest Row in East Sussex and established our Shop-Clinic there. You will not meet a kinder, more generous person.

Michael also speaks German.

Rose Duncan is registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and began her professional career working as a Residential Social Worker. It was the importance she placed on care and development that led her to move to the Royal Free Hospital, initially as a Care Assistant and then later as a Nurse.

In 2010, Rose specialised as an ENT Nurse, which culminated in her leadership of the aural microsuction training programme for ENT Nurses from 2017 until 2020.

Rose has retired now, but still enjoys working part-time in Hearology’s clinics. Remarkably, some of her former patients from the NHS have sought her out since she’s been with us!

Norani Lucas is a Health and Care Professions Council-registered Clinical Audiologist with an aural microsuction specialism. Norani’s original training was as a classical musician. Besides appearing as a solo oboist, she has performed with various chamber music groups and orchestras internationally.

Prior to joining Hearology, Norani was the (Hearcare Joint Venture Partnership) Director for Audiology at Specsavers, Stratford, London where she was responsible for running a total of five stores in the area.

Norani’s compassionate nature is what makes her a great Audiologist and aural microsuction practitioner and this nature is reflected in her dedication to charitable work in support of deprived children – namely, committee membership of one South Asian and two UK charities.

Kristina Pinterova is an ENT Nurse Practitioner with 23 years of experience in ENT nursing.

Kristina is registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and holds a Nursing Diploma.

Kristina joined the Royal National ENT Hospital in London in 2008 where she developed her aural microsuction specialism working in the ENT Outpatients department. Kristina has worked at Hearology since 2019 and her skillset extends to paediatric care.

Kristina also speaks Hungarian and Slovak.

Stephen Archer is an Audiologist of 37 years standing who is registered with the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists.

Stephen originally qualified from the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital and went on to serve in several of their advanced, clinical departments including diagnostic audiology in the ENT Outpatients department.

Stephen’s caring approach and charming manner are in evidence from his many five-star reviews across Hearology’s various review platforms.

Harry Davidson is a highly skilled aural microsuction practitioner and is also Hearology’s lead balance and vestibular specialist.

Harry is registered with the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists, has a BSc in Pharmacology, an MSc in Audiology and a Certificate of Audiological Competence – one of the profession’s most prestigious qualifications. This qualification, which Harry gained in 2007 after three years at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, allows him to work across all areas of audiology, including vestibular assessment and rehabilitation. Harry has since helped to rehabilitate countless patients with a variety of complex hearing and balance problems.

Harry has worked at Hearology since 2018, predominantly out of our Victoria clinic – which is why Hearology’s balance service is based there.

Harry also speaks French.

Ria is a Health and Care Professions Council-registered Clinical Audiologist with a Bachelor’s in Audiology and an aural microsuction specialism.

Ria has worked in private healthcare settings, initially with Boots and then Amplifon, as both an Audiologist and a Clinic Manager.

Ria has a caring and light-hearted style that she uses to good effect to fulfil her purpose at work every day – namely, to improve quality of life for all her clients.

Setor Acolatse is a Health and Care Professions Council-registered Clinical Audiologist who specialises in aural rehabilitation and aural microsuction.

Setor’s first degree was a Bachelor’s in Audio Production and her love for music developed into a fascination with the ways in which sound affects our ears and hearing – and the impact it has on our quality of life when hearing health is affected. Her extensive and impressive qualifications to date include a Postgraduate Certificate from Manchester, a Foundation Degree from De Montfort and more recently a Master’s in Advanced Audiology from UCL.

Setor worked at Specsavers for six years as Clinical Lead Dispenser. Setor very much shares Hearology’s vision that audiological services and ear health education should be tailored and accessible to everyone.

Setor also speaks Twi and Ewe (Ghanaian).

Mariama is a very experienced nurse, registered with both the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Royal College of Nursing. She qualified in 2006 and went on to specialise as an ENT Nurse in 2010 having derived particular meaning from assisting patients with hearing difficulties during her general training.

Mariama has worked at the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear hospital since 2010, including becoming Deputy Manager of her department and a Student Nurse Mentor on account of her extensive ENT nursing knowledge base.

Mariama is particularly proud of her work as a Student Nurse Mentor, educating and inspiring the next generation of ENT Nurses. For this attitude as well as for her clinical excellence, we are very pleased to have her as part of the Hearology team.

Aida is a Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists-registered Clinical Audiologist and Hearing Therapist with a Bachelor’s in Audiology and Speech and Language Pathology from Manipal University (Karnataka, India). She is now studying for a Master’s in Advanced Audiology at UCL.

Aida’s many specialisms include aural microsuction, adult diagnostic hearing assessment, adult hearing rehabilitation, tinnitus assessment and rehabilitation and auditory processing disorder rehabilitation.

Aida has worked in a variety of NHS and private healthcare settings including Charing Cross and St. George’s University Hospitals and has extensive knowledge and experience with complex cases.

Aida also speaks Hindi and Konkani.

Why microsuction?

The microsuction technique is widely regarded as the safest, most comfortable and quickest means of ear cleaning. No outdated ear syringing, messy oil treatment or dangerous and ineffective Hopi ear candles! Our specialist microsuction equipment, in the hands of our trained experts, is far safer and more comfortable than other forms of ear wax removal….

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Simple And Safe Microsuction Ear Cleaning Service

  • Safe – Surgical microscopes for precision and safety

  • Comfortable – ENT-grade microsuction unit for gentle cleaning

  • Specialist – Impacted and on-eardrum wax removal

  • Full Service – In-house ENT and Audiology expertise

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  • Full Service – In-house ENT, Audiology and Balance Expertise

    Highly qualified, registered Clinical Audiologists; some of the most experienced ENT nurses in the country; Hearing and Balance specialists.

  • Professional and Convenient

    Our reviews testify to the professionalism of our staff and the excellence of our facilities – click on the green star in the ‘Google rating’ box on the homepage to read them for yourself. We have several clinics in London and highly responsive telephone teams to ensure that we are always available and accessible for you.

  • Safe, Registered and Insured

    Safety is our priority and we pride ourselves in making the procedure as effective, comfortable and efficient as possible. We also offer free follow-up appointments to ensure that the blockage can be removed in its entirety as safely and comfortably as possible. You can rest assured that all our clinical practitioners have all the necessary registrations and insurance in place.

Call us on 0203 747 4615 or book an appointment:

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