FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What if I have ear pain?
Ear pain can be caused by infection, wax impaction or injuries. We aim to see you as soon as possible but we are not an acute service and there may be a delay in getting an appointment with one of our ear nurses. If you have severe pain or any urgent concerns please see you doctor or visit an urgent care service promptly. Tui Te Rapa Urgent Care and Medical Centre offers urgent care and medical services all year round 24/7.
Can you prescribe treatment?
Some of our Ear Nurses are able to prescribe treatment for ear infections as Registered Nurse Prescribers. We are also able to issue treatment under Nurse Standing Orders, if criteria is met (We are not able to provide you with a prescription under standing orders). In cases of multiple chronic health conditions or allergies the Ear Nurse will need to refer you back to your regular doctor for treatment.
WHAT DOES NURSE STANDING ORDERS MEAN?
A standing order is a written instruction issued by a medical practitioner, dentist, nurse practitioner or optometrist. It authorises a specified person or class of people (eg, paramedics, registered nurses) who do not have prescribing rights to administer and/or supply specified medicines and some controlled drugs. The intention is for standing orders to be used to improve patients’ timely access to medicines; for example, by authorising a paramedic in an emergency or a registered nurse in a primary health care setting. You can find more information about standing orders here Standing Order Guidelines | Ministry of Health NZ.
What is microsuctioning?
The procedure of microsuctioning involves using a small tube/cannula to suck out any ear wax or debris from the ear canal. This is part of your consultation with the Ear Nurse and is performed while looking through a microscope to examine and/or clean your ear canals. You may find the suction noise and tickly, but no pain should be felt during the procedure. The Ear Nurse may also use other instruments that do not produce any noise.
is microsuctioning safe?
Microsuctioning is the most common way to remove ear wax build up from the ear canal due to its effectiveness, painlessness and safety. Despite the safety of microsuctioning, as with any medical procedure, it carries a small amount of risk and potential side effects. Most of these potential side effects are very rare, but they do occur. It is not possible to predict if someone may experience any side effect. Our Ear Nurses are trained to mitigate these risks as much as possible. We encourage our clients to inform the Ear Nurse asap if they experience any discomfort during the procedure.
Dizziness - Some people experience a little dizziness, faintness or a feeling of vertigo during the procedure or shortly afterwards. This is due to microsuctioning causing the temperature of the ear canal to cool down during the procedure. If this occurs, it is only temporary and shouldn’t last very long following the removal of ear wax. Please inform the nurse if your experience dizziness during or after the procedure.
Trauma - The procedure involves instruments being inserted into the ear canal, there is a small risk that some damage or trauma could occur in the ear canal or ear drum from sudden movements during the procedure.
Noise - The equipment used during ear wax removal does generate some noise, which some find to be very loud. In minimal cases, this can cause temporary short lived hearing loss, known as a temporary threshold shift. This occasionally happens when tiny muscles contract to protect the ear against noise. In extreme cases this can lead to permanent hearing loss and hyperacusis (sensitivity to sound). This is rare but not unfounded.
Tinnitus - There is a rare chance of tinnitus being caused, or existing tinnitus worsened. If someone has existing tinnitus, micro-suctioning could make it worse. If this does occur, it should be temporary but micro-suctioning should be avoided.
Infection - This is rare, but there is a small risk of infection following microsuctioning potentially by introducing bacteria into the ear canal, by “over cleaning” the ear and removing the protective barrier or by causing trauma to skin.
does it hurt?
No – the procedure it is not painful. You may find the suction a bit noisy and your ear may itch for a short time after. If you experience any pain during the procedure you are encouraged to notify the nurse immediately.
Do you see children?
Yes, we see children of all ages. The normal consultation fee will apply as we are a private clinic and receive no funding. Children will need to lie down on the bed to have their ears examined, if needed they can sit on a parents lap during the examination. The suction is only used if necessary; the nurse will try to clean the ear canal with quiet instruments first as some children do not like the noise of the suction. Occasionally, if the Ear Nurse is not able to safely perform the procedure, it will be abandoned to prevent injury.
How long will my appointment take?
Your appointment will take approximately 20 minutes. The Ear Nurse will do her best to complete the procedure in one appointment but occasionally a second or even 3rd visit may be required when there is a significant blockage or infection. These follow up visits will incur a charge but it will be a reduced fee.
What about ear candles?
The quick answer is no, don’t! Ear candles are an alternative health treatment claiming to work for the removal of ear wax. A hollow candle is burned with one end in the ear canal. This is with the intent of creating a low-level vacuum to draw out wax.
However, the procedure does not guarantee ear wax removal, often causes burns and can leave residue in the ear canal. TOLBECS does not reccommend this procedure.
Is ear syringing safe?
Ear syringing is not considered best practice. Microsuction is the preferred method for the safe and comfortable removal of wax from an ear canal. Best practice is to give clients an informed choice before syringing is performed, if both services are available.
Why is Syringing unsafe? Because it is a blind procedure, removes the natural protective layers of the ear canal, increases the risk of developing an ear canal infection and poor technique can lead to injury/trauma of the ear canal and ear drum perforations.
Do you do hearing tests?
Yes, at TOLBECS we offer screening hearing tests. This is a basic pass-fail test. If you fail a screening hearing test you will be advised to see an Audiologist for a full diagnostic hearing assessment. If you already wear hearing aids or have been told in the past, you have hearing loss then this test is not adequate, and you should see your Audiologist who keeps records of your previous tests. Children under the age of 4 years old can only be tested in a specialized setting so they would need to either be referred to the audiology department at your local hospital or to an audiology clinic that provides this specialised service.
It is not recommended to have a hearing test on the same day as micro suctioning, we would recommend you wait 24 hours before you have a hearing test. The same applies for when you have been exposed to any loud noise (concern, working in a noise environment).
Prior to booking in a hearing screening test, it is best to have the free ear check at Tolbecs Hamilton East, to determine whether you’ll need microsuctioning performed prior to a hearing screening.
What if I have an ear infection?
Whether you suspect or already know you have an ear infection, we can help with the management of your infection. It is important to remove all wax/debris from your ear canal before starting any treatment. We can assist by:
cleaning your ear
starting you on treatment under Nurse Standing Orders (or in some cases a prescription by our Community Nurse Prescriber) if deemed safe and appropriate to do so (this may include ear drops and or oral antibiotics)
giving you advice on how to keep your ears dry and prevent further infections
making a follow-up plan to ensure the infection has resolved
referral if appropriate
who should get their ears checked?
Anyone who experiences the following:
blocked ears
hearing changes
ringing in the ears
ear pain
ear discharge
very itchy ears
bad smell from the ear
children not hearing well
when you are travelling especially to warm humid places like Fiji, Rarotonga, Vietnam etc
before swimming season starts especially if you are prone to ear infections or produce a lot of ear wax
Also anyone who puts things in their ears like hearing aids, cotton buds or earplugs should get their ears checked and cleaned every 6 – 12 months.
does wearing earmuffs or ear plugs cause ear problems?
It is very important to protect you ears from noise damage as hearing loss is permanent. Wearing earmuffs or earplugs can be the cause of ear wax being pushed into the ear canal. It may also be the reason your ears get hot and sweaty and as a result cause a build up of ear wax. We recommend anyone who wears earmuffs or earplugs regularly to get their ears checked and cleaned every 6 - 12 months. Our free ear canal check for ear wax can be a useful screening tool to see how frequently you need to have wax removed.
Should i use oil or ear drops to soften the wax?
We do not generally recommend putting any oil or over the counter ear drops in your ears without getting them looked at first. The reason for this is that sometimes putting these in your ears may make things worse especially if you have a hole in your eardrum (perforation) or you have an ear infection. Some may find that softening the wax a few days before their appointment makes the procedure more comfortable. The Ear Nurse has softening drops on hand to use during your consultation if required.
If you have had ear wax removed before and have been told it will help to put olive oil in your ears 1 - 3 days before your next appointment then that would be recommended to allow for easy wax removal.
do you prescribe hearing aids?
No, we do not sell hearing aids. This is a service provided by an audiologist who specialises in hearing loss. However, people who wear hearing aids require wax removal every 3 – 12 months as they are more prone to a wax build up which may interfere with their hearing aids and lead to infection.
do you deal with acc?
Yes, we are registered with ACC which allows us to see clients with injuries to their ears as well as removal of foreign bodies. You will need to complete an ACC claim form at your visit (if not already done somewhere else). A surcharge applies as ACC do not cover the full consultation fee - see our fees section for info.
If ACC paid for your hearing aids they will also contribute to your visits to us for wax removal usually 2 - 3 visit a year. We will need your ACC claim number when we see you. If you require more frequent visits and ACC has not agreed to pay for these you may need to pay the full consultation fee.
What if i’m in a wheelchair?
We have electronic beds that are able to adjust their height so you should be able to transfer comfortably. Alternatively we can see you in your wheelchair if it can recline to allow the nurse access to your ears (electric wheelchair). Please note our nurses do not assist with transferring due to the risk of injury. We also do not have a hoist so if assistance is needed with transfer please bring support people with you to do so. Please inform us when making your appoinment of any special considerations during your visit.
Do you do home or resthome visits?
No, we do not provide a mobile service.
where are you located?
We are located at 74 Naylor Street Hamilton East.
We also have another site located at the Rototuna Shopping Centre operating as Tui Ear Clinic.
Will there be a cost for my appointment?
Yes, we are a private clinic so there will be a cost for your appointment. We do not recieve any funding. You will be seen by a Registered Nurse who has had specialized training in otology. We also offer the newest up to date technology when it comes to ear care. At TOLBECS we aim to offer you a one stop service, reducing the need to visit multiple providers and reducing the overall cost when looking after your ears. You can find the information on our Fees page. Payment is required on the day of your appointment.
We do deal with WINZ - we are able to provide you with a WINZ quote for your to take to work and income to help with payment. An appointment can only be made once you have received approval from them as payment is required on the day of your consultation.
The cost for adults and children are the same. There is a free children’s ear clinic service provided by the DHB, you can find information about this on the Waikato DHB website or call them at 07 838 3565.
ACC Approved Provider / WINZ Registered Provider / Veterans Affairs Provider