Hearing Tests

[bluebird34]

Is it usual to have yours ears syringed before attending a hearing test.

[Sqad]

Yes....it is essential.

[redman41]

CAN YOU PLEASE SPEAK UP ! :-)

[Sqad]

YES.... IT IS ESSENTIAL

[redman41]

Hi Sqad !
Damned Wax......:-))

[Sqad]

Hi! red.
Your team is doing fine at the moment&I fancy them for the championship.

[redman41]

If we win our next and last 6 games we will be there.
Easier said than done though as it's been a long time...

[dustypuss]

Pardon

[heathfield]

For some time now doctors at our local Health Centre have been refusing to syringe ears except as a last resort. They've been prescribing drops instead. Their excuse is that the procedure can introduce bugs into the ears. My answer is - why can't they just use an antibacterial wash? My wife suffered quite severe deafness from wax buildup for a whole six weeks before putting her foot down, and successfully demanding from her doctor that her ears be syringed. My own opinion is that the doctors just don't want to spend the time on the procedure. In my own case, working offshore, I've had many, many, hearing tests as part of routine medical examinations. It has never ever been suggested that I have my ears syringed beforehand.

[Sqad]

heathfield

\\\\\My own opinion is that the doctors just don't want to spend the time on the procedure.\\\\

I agree entirely, unless of course that they get paid extra for it.
I also wonder if doctors know how to syringe an ear.

\\\I've had many, many, hearing tests as part of routine medical examinations. It has never ever been suggested that I have my ears syringed beforehand.\\\

But presumably they have looked in your ears prior to the tests.

[heathfield]

Right on both counts, Squad. :-)

[marval]

My doctor agreed I was having hearing problems, I did not have to have them syringed before the hearing tests.

[naomi24]

No it isn't usual - but obviously if your ears are gunky they need to be cleaned.

[Sqad]

marval^^^^^

Because you didn't have wax in them.

[naomi24]

^^ ....whether you're having problems or not.

[naomi24]

sqad, if you don't have wax in them it isn't usual or essential to have them cleaned before a hearing test.

[ummmm]

So to be clear, they only syringe the ears before a hearing test if it looks like there is a build up of wax?

I didn't have mine syringed before my last hearing test.

[Sqad]

Just to be clear:

IF a patient is complaining of deafness, the first procedure is to LOOK into the ear. If there is wax, then this is syringed and if the patient's hearing has returned, then no hearing tests are necessary.
If there is no wax in our deaf patient then they then go onto hearing tests WITHOUT syringing.

[naomi24]

Sqad, That's more like it. ;o)

[smoneybags]

I was desperate to have my ears syringed a few weeks ago. I'd gone deaf in one ear and it was driving me mad. I had to wait a week to see the doctor and another week to see the nurse to get them syringed. I went on the internet and found a private ear health clinic. I phoned them at five o'clock on Tuesday and by ten o'clock the next morning I was having my ears syringed in the comfort of my own home. I had to pay of course, but it was worth every penny of the forty pounds I was charged, and it saved me another week of misery!

[boxtops]

I don't understand that, heathfield. I agree with sqad that not all GPs will know how to undertake ear syringing, but in this county the practice nurses certainly do - it's a nurse led service here, nearly all the surgeries offer it. In other counties the healtcare assistants do it (after appropriate accredited training, of course....)