FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The HCPC are a regulator of health and care professions in the UK. Their role is to protect the public. The HCPC regulate 15 health and care professions such as Paramedics, Physiotherapists, Radiographers and Hearing Aid Dispensers (Audiologists). By law, people must be registered with them to work in these professions in the UK. I am registered as a Hearing Aid Dispenser. It is important to remove occluding earwax before a hearing test (although you should delay having a test for 24 hours after wax removal). Standard 15 (effective 1st September 2023) states that all registrants across all professions should "promote health and prevent ill health". I endeavour to do that on your behalf by providing information and advice where appropriate.

The British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists are the officially recognised professional  body representing over 2500 Audiologists working independently in the United Kingdom. Their  mission is to uphold the highest standards of audiology care for members and their patients.

I can sometimes offer you an appointment on the same day that you contact me. I can usually offer you a clinic appointment within one week. Home visits are subject to your location and availability and are sometimes available at short notice. It helps if you have been using olive oil drops to soften the earwax for a few days as this helps to facilitate its removal.

In my opinion a version of olive oil specifically for earwax removal purchased from a pharmacy is best. If you purchase Otex I recommend reading the small print as there are at least three different versions containing either urea hydrogen peroxide, sodium bicarbonate or olive oil. I recommend Earol as it contains olive oil and comes in a useful spray bottle. Avoid getting water in your ears as this can allow an infection to develop. Don't use cotton buds as they push wax deeper into the ear canal making it more difficult to remove.

I allocate 30 minutes for a clinic appointment for earwax removal, it may take slightly longer in your own home to allow time to set out the equipment. The time allocated enables me to explain the procedure, answer any questions that you may have, examine your ears, ask you some questions about your ears and relevant general health, ask you to read and sign a form consenting to the procedure, perform the procedure and talk about what to do next as well as answer any further questions that you may have.

No I am not qualified, experienced or insured to treat children so unfortunately not. My service is for over 18's only.

It shouldn't do. It is less likely to hurt if the wax has been adequately softened using olive oil beforehand and if you haven't pushed the wax further down the ear canal using cotton buds.

A recent BBC  online article with the headline 'Warning over medical clinics using fake Google reviews' suggested that marketing companies are providing fake reviews to medical clinics. 

From the same article - Harry Kind from Which? said "I think it's bad enough if you buy a pair of dodgy Bluetooth headphones off a fake review, but if you try and get a medical treatment done and it turns out that the review you chose the establishment on was fake, that could have really serious repercussions.

Selling them, buying them, and hosting them on your platforms should be illegal, they should be facing a fine there needs to be some deterrent from just buying a load of fake reviews because for now it's easy to do."

Another BBC video article offered advice on 'How to spot fake reviews online' 

All of my reviews  are from genuine clients of mine - you have my word. Read my reviews they are all written in individual unique styles. They are not written to a marketing formula using certain keywords, neither are they of uniform standard length with similar word count.

No, I view the ear directly during the procedure.  I use a head loupe (photo above) that gives magnification (3x) and powerful illumination to directly view your ear. I feel that this is safer than holding a bulky camera/mobile phone in one hand whilst removing earwax with the microsuction probe with the other hand. However if you want to see what microsuction looks like there are lots of videos on YouTube - for example search for Audiology Associates Ltd.

No, I just stick to my own specialism as an Audiologist. I test peoples hearing and dispense and fit hearing aids, although whilst trading as 'Shropshire Earwax Removal' I just perform earwax removal. It is a skillful and delicate procedure that requires dedication, knowledge, appropriate training, manual dexterity, relevant experience and regular practice. I have successfully treated thousands of ears for earwax removal. It is a very satisfying job restoring people to 'normal' hearing (whatever normal is for them). 

Please phone or text 07411 223357 or email me at dr.markchalliner@gmail.com or use the "contact me" button or form. I'll get back to you promptly. If I don't pick up when you call it's most likely because I am with a client or driving, please leave a message or text me.

These are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions

I've worked as a Hearing Aid Audiologist since I qualified in 2006. I undertook additional training to provide an earwax removal service to my clients by completing the earwax microsuction course at Aston University in April 2018. Since then I have successfully treated thousands of ears and in the process restored 'normal hearing' to thousands of clients.

Shropshire Earwax Removal is based in The Happy Feet Clinic (foot care!), Holyhead Road, Bicton, Shrewsbury SY3 8EQ on a Wednesday daytime and on Thursday late afternoon/evening. This is located on the outskirts of Shrewsbury. From Shrewsbury direction on the inner ring road take the right fork at the traffic lights by the Oxon Priory Pub (Shelton Corner) to Bicton and Montford Bridge (not Bicton Heath). After about 1.5 miles go past what was the the Four Crosses Pub (now Canopy Children's Nursery) and then Four Crosses Garage, the clinic is located on the right hand side just inside the 30mph limit. You can park right outside. Please park parallel to the house on our carpark and I will call you in when I am free.

I also have a clinic in Welshpool on Friday mornings at Health Focus Clinic, 3, Canal Yard Welshpool SY21 7AQ. Health Focus Clinic is located at the far end of Morrisons car park in Welshpool.

Home visits for earwax removal are available in Shrewsbury on a Monday daytime and Thursday morning subject to availability. Home visits in Welshpool are available on a Friday afternoon. It helps me if you can get to a clinic but I can see you in your own home if necessary because of difficulty in getting to a clinic or just for your convenience. In Shrewsbury or Welshpool the fee is still £60.  Further distances incur an additional travel fee of at least £15.

Preferably use the 'contact me' form above or phone or text me on 07411 223357 or email me at dr.markchalliner@gmail.com  If I am in a clinic I may not be able to answer immediately but I will get back to you asap. When I am in a clinic it is often easier for me to reply by text if all you need is an appointment rather than having questions to ask. Please let me know if you require a phone call back. For an appointment at Health Focus Clinic, Welshpool please contact the clinic directly on 01938 556073

The cost for earwax removal whether it is one or both ears is £60 (not £60 per ear). The fee is the same whether for a clinic appointment or at your own home in Shrewsbury or Welshpool, further distances incur an additional travel fee of at least £15. If on examination no earwax is found then a 'consultation only' fee of £25 applies. You can pay by card.

Please use olive oil to soften the wax for about 5 days before your appointment. In my opinion a version of olive oil specifically for earwax removal purchased from a pharmacy is best. If you purchase Otex I recommend reading the small print as there are at least three different versions containing either urea hydrogen peroxide, sodium bicarbonate or olive oil. I recommend Earol as it contains olive oil and comes in a useful spray bottle. Avoid getting water in your ears as this can allow an infection to develop. Don't use cotton buds as they push wax deeper into the ear canal making it more difficult to remove.

Yes, I'm an Independent Hearing Aid Audiologist providing an Earwax Removal Service with clinics in Shrewsbury and Welshpool. Home visits provided in and around Shrewsbury. I live near Shrewsbury. I also work as a locum elsewhere testing peoples hearing and dispensing and fitting hearing aids as well as providing an aftercare service. I am not going to try and sell you hearing aids but if your hearing is not improved by having the earwax removed I would always recommend getting a hearing test either privately or through your GP. I am a member of the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists. I wear hearing aids myself so I know what it feels like  to have a hearing loss and to wear hearing aids on a daily basis.

In general earwax is good for your ears and is protective and healthy. However an excessive build up of earwax can result in symptoms such as hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo. Some people are more prone to a build up of earwax than others. Hearing aids perhaps make the likelihood of a build up of earwax more common. For hearing aid wearers earwax can exacerbate problems of feedback (whistling) and hearing aids not working due to being blocked with earwax.

On average about once a year if you are prone to a build up of wax. Some clients I see every 3 or 4 months. It's better to seek treatment sooner than later and use olive oil drops to soften the wax for a few days before your appointment. To try and avoid a build up or wax you can use olive oil drops occasionally (no more than once a week) to keep the wax soft and it may work its way out of the ear canal as the skin lining the ear a canal grows outwards in a similar process to how your finger nails grow out.

In general no. The ear canal is about 3cm long and is about 0.7cm or less wide. Putting a cotton bud in your ear may remove a small amount of earwax on the tip of the cotton bud but the greater risk is that it pushes wax deeper into the ear canal close to the thin membrane of the eardrum. The earwax has no where to go and can become compacted against the eardrum making it painful and more difficult to remove. Many G.P.'s advise not putting anything smaller than your elbow in your ear canal!

The benefit is usually  experienced immediately! If you don't notice an immediate improvement I will discuss the reasons why and advise you on what to do next. This may include continuing to use olive oil drops for a few days, coming back for a follow up appointment, contacting your GP or pharmacist for advice or booking a hearing test.