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.