Endoscopic microsuction removes earwax with a gentle suction tool while the practitioner watches a magnified camera view of your ear canal. It uses no water. Baz Chandarana, an HCPC registered audiologist, carries it out at your home across North Leicestershire, so blocked ears can be cleared without a trip anywhere.

If you have been told you need your ears cleared, you may have met several different terms: syringing, irrigation, microsuction and endoscopic microsuction. They all aim to get wax out of the canal, but they go about it in different ways, and the right choice depends on your ears and your ear history. This guide explains how each method works, what makes the endoscopic version different, and what happens when Baz visits you at home.

Why earwax builds up in the first place

Earwax is natural, and most of the time it works its way out of the ear without any help. It can build up if you wear hearing aids or earbuds, if your ear canals are narrow or have a lot of hair in them, if you use cotton buds, or simply as you get older. When wax sits in the canal for long enough, it can start to cause problems.

Signs it may be time to book:

1. Sounds seem muffled, as though you have cotton wool in your ears.
2. One or both ears feel full or blocked.
3. You can hear ringing or buzzing that was not there before.
4. Your ears feel itchy or slightly sore.
5. Your hearing aids whistle or seem quieter than usual.

The main ways earwax is removed

1. Softening drops. Olive oil or similar drops are often the first step, and for some people the wax then clears on its own.
2. Ear irrigation. Warm water is directed into the canal to loosen the wax and flush it out. This used to be done with a large metal syringe, which is where the word syringing comes from. Modern irrigation uses an electronic machine that controls the water pressure.
3. Manual removal. A practitioner uses a small hook or loop to lift wax out of the canal.
4. Microsuction. A small suction tool lifts the wax out while the practitioner looks into the canal through a microscope or magnifying loupes.
5. Endoscopic microsuction. The same suction technique, with the view coming from a tiny camera and light that fits into the ear canal and shows the picture on a screen.

Which method is used on the day comes down to what the practitioner finds when they look in your ear.

What endoscopic microsuction involves

Microsuction has been a standard way of clearing wax for a long time. The word endoscopic describes how the practitioner sees what they are doing. Instead of viewing the ear from the outside, they use an endoscope, a very small camera with its own light, to look along the canal. The picture is magnified on a screen, so the wax and the wall of the canal are easy to tell apart, and the eardrum can be seen once the wax has gone.

The suction tool is then used to lift the wax away while the practitioner keeps watching that picture. Everything happens under direct view, which means they can see how close the wax is to the eardrum and can stop at any point. No water goes into the ear, so the canal stays dry. That matters if you are prone to ear infections or have had ear surgery.

How it differs from ear irrigation

Irrigation flushes wax out with water. The practitioner relies on the water to carry the wax out, rather than lifting it away while watching it come. For many people that works well. For others it is not suitable, and ENT specialists generally steer away from water in situations such as:

• A perforated eardrum, or a history of one
• Grommets in the ears
• Previous ear surgery
• An active ear infection, or a history of repeated outer ear infections

Commissioning guidance for the Humber and North Yorkshire NHS area, last updated in 2026, describes old-style metal syringes as potentially harmful and electronic irrigation as safer. It also describes microsuction as a safer intervention, while accepting that it is not risk free. The same policy notes that wax removal is not provided by every GP practice and is widely available privately.

How it differs from microsuction under a microscope

The removal itself is the same gentle suction. The difference is the view. A microscope or loupes gives a magnified look from outside the ear, while an endoscope puts a camera into the canal itself and shows the picture on a screen. Both are accepted ways to see what you are doing, and Baz uses the endoscopic version.

What happens at a home appointment

1. Baz arrives at the time you have booked and sets up in a comfortable seat in your home.
2. He asks about your ears: how long they have felt blocked, any past infections, surgery, perforations or grommets, and whether you wear hearing aids.
3. He looks into each ear with the camera to see the wax and check that removal is safe to go ahead that day.
4. He removes the wax with the suction tool, one ear at a time, while you keep your head as still as you can.
5. He takes a last look to confirm the canal is clear and the eardrum can be seen.
6. He talks you through what he found and what to do if anything feels odd afterwards.

Both ears usually take no more than about 30 minutes in total. Very hard wax sometimes needs softening before it can be removed, and if that is the case you will be told. Occasionally the right decision is to stop and send you to your GP, for example if there are signs of infection, and that is simply part of doing the job safely.

What it feels like

The suction makes a noise that can sound loud right beside your ear. You may notice a slight tickle or a cool sensation in the canal. Some people feel brief dizziness as air moves through the ear, which usually passes quickly. The skin of the canal can occasionally be grazed, which is one reason keeping still helps, and the risk of damage to the eardrum is very small. If anything is uncomfortable, say so and the practitioner can pause.

Most people find the appointment comfortable. If wax was the reason your hearing felt muffled, many people notice sound is clearer straight away.

Getting ready before the visit

1. If your GP or practitioner suggests it, use olive oil drops for a few days beforehand to soften the wax. Check with your GP first if you have a perforated eardrum or any discharge.
2. Make a note of any ear surgery, perforations, grommets or infections.
3. Have a comfortable chair ready in a room with good light.
4. Leave cotton buds, ear candles and home suction kits alone. They can push wax further in or injure the canal.
5. See your GP first if you have ear pain, discharge, dizziness or sudden hearing loss.

Why this works so well as a home visit

The procedure needs a comfortable seat and good light, so it moves easily into your own home. Baz covers Mountsorrel, Rothley, Quorn, Barrow upon Soar, Sileby, Woodhouse Eaves, Wymeswold, Newtown Linford, Walton on the Wolds and Loughborough. If you live in one of those villages, there is nothing to arrange except the time.

Frequently asked questions

Is endoscopic microsuction painful?

Most people find it comfortable. The suction can be noisy and you may feel a slight tickle, but it should not be painful. Tell the practitioner if anything hurts and they can pause.

Is it safe if I have a perforated eardrum or grommets?

Because no water is used, microsuction is commonly chosen for people with these. Always tell Baz about them before the appointment so he can decide whether removal is suitable for you on the day.

How is endoscopic microsuction different from ordinary microsuction?

The suction itself is the same. The difference is the view, which comes from a small camera shown on a screen rather than from a microscope or loupes.

How long does an appointment take?

Both ears usually take no more than about 30 minutes. Hard or very impacted wax can take longer.

Will my hearing improve afterwards?

If wax was the cause of your muffled hearing, it often improves straight away. If it does not, a hearing test can help find out what else may be going on.

Do I need to use ear drops first?

Drops can help soften wax, and olive oil is commonly suggested. Ask when you book, and see your GP first if you have a perforated eardrum or ear discharge.

Can I remove wax myself with a camera or suction kit?

It is best not to. Home tools can push wax deeper or injure the canal, and a practitioner can see far more clearly than you can on your own.

If your ears have been feeling blocked, get in touch with Baz and he will come to you.