How can we help unblock patient ears when we can't see them?
Although non-life threatening, a blocked ear is an incredibly frustrating problem for many patients. As you read this, there will probably be thousands of people being turned away or naturally
staying away from NHS surgeries, hospital departments and private clinics due to the COVID -19 outbreak.
Patients will be looking for alternatives and probably resort to other tactics including the dreaded earbud or, heaven forbid, an internet bought ear candle! (These do not work!) For those of
you, that feel the need to try something, we believe we've put together your best and safest option. We have created a pack that includes a small 20ml manual syringe that uses a Bionix SprayWash
Tip and comes with an Earol bottle for pre-treatment.
Whilst we wouldn’t normally recommend that people try to remove earwax themselves, they are more likely to be tempted to do so if a professional isn’t available to help. This is why we’ve put
together what we believe are the safest products to use if someone absolutely had to do it themselves. Bionix SprayWash tips and Earol have long been used and recommended by audiologists.
Personally, we would only advise the use of this pack, when it is difficult for a patient to see a practitioner and can't wait. There is a lot to be said about the benefits of a professional
being able to view the specific problem as it is dealt with.
The main risk is that the blockage could be made temporarily worse if the wax doesn’t come out and absorbs the oil and moisture. Therefore, creating a bigger blockage. Ultimately, the wax
would still likely soften and relief would be found but there could be a period of time while the ear feels more blocked.
Using any water method to remove wax either by a professional or a self-clean method always carries a small risk of infection which is why most ear care professionals would recommend the dry
method of aural microsuction. However, in times like this, we believe this is your next best option.
The syringe, Bionix tips, and Earol have all been CE certified for purpose and are completely safe to use as long as the included instructions are followed. Earol Spray has a simple yet unique delivery system capable of dispensing a discrete unit dose of olive oil into the outer ear. This eliminates the need for the use of cotton wool or a dropper therefore significantly reducing any waste and spillages.
Bionix OtoClear Tips are excellent for patient comfort because of the soft, Gentle Touch Design. Three jets direct water flow away from the eardrum at 30 angles for increased safety, virtually eliminating the risk of perforation. The flared tip design prevents over-insertion into the ear canal and large exit portals prohibit pressure build-up and promotes direct drainage gently out of the canal eliminating back splash.
