Children are rarely good at explaining what’s wrong with their ears. You’re more likely to notice the telly creeping louder, a toddler tugging one ear at bedtime, or your eight-year-old saying “what?” a lot more than usual. Ear wax is one of the common, fixable reasons behind this, and for families in and around SE1, child ear cleaning near London Bridge is available without a long wait. The children’s clinic at Hearology® London Bridge runs dedicated paediatric sessions on most Saturdays.
Signs your child’s ears might be blocked
Young children often can’t describe the feeling, so look for changes in behaviour:
- Pulling or tugging at one ear
- Poking fingers, pencils or straws into their ears
- Not reacting to loud sounds, or needing the TV turned up
- Struggling to concentrate at school or nursery
- Speech that seems behind other children of the same age
- Irritability or complaints of discomfort
- Redness around the ear, or a brown, sticky substance coming out
Wax, infection or glue ear?
These three can look similar from the outside, which is why it helps to have a proper look inside.
- Ear wax usually causes dull hearing and a blocked feeling without much pain or fever.
- An ear infection often follows a cold and brings pain, a high temperature and sometimes discharge. In England, community pharmacists can assess ear infections in children aged one to 17 under the Pharmacy First service, so a pharmacy is a good first stop. See your GP urgently if your child is very unwell.
- Glue ear is a build-up of fluid behind the eardrum. It’s very common in young children and can dull their hearing for weeks, but it isn’t something wax removal can fix.
A good paediatric appointment includes a close examination of the ear canal and eardrum, so even if the answer isn’t wax, you leave with a clearer idea of what to do next.
What happens at a children’s microsuction appointment
At Hearology® London Bridge, children’s appointments are booked as 30-minute slots, twice the length of an adult appointment. The extra time is there so your child can settle in, ask questions and never feel rushed. The treatment is carried out by ENT nurses and clinical audiologists with extensive paediatric experience, for children aged three and over.
The appointment usually runs like this:
- A chat about your child’s ear history and any previous treatment
- A look inside both ears using a surgical microscope
- Gentle suction to lift the wax out, piece by piece
- A final check that the ear canal and eardrum look healthy
There’s no need for olive oil or drops beforehand, which is one less battle at bedtime. Bring along any letters or results from other health professionals, as these help build an accurate picture.
How to prepare your child
A little preparation goes a long way:
- Describe it simply. “A tiny vacuum cleaner that tickles and makes a whooshing sound” is usually enough.
- Practise being a statue. Holding still for a few seconds at a time, as a game at home, makes the real thing much easier.
- Bring something comforting. A favourite toy or a small reward for afterwards.
- Choose the right time. A Saturday morning after a good night’s sleep beats a late afternoon when they’re tired and hungry.
- Skip “it won’t hurt” on repeat. It can make children suspicious. “It might tickle” is honest and far less alarming.
What if my child won’t keep still?
It happens, particularly with younger children, and a good clinic won’t force it. Safety comes first, so if a child can’t keep their head still enough, the clinician will stop. At Hearology, if the procedure can’t go ahead, only the consultation is charged, and they’ll refer you to a service that carries out ear cleaning under anaesthetic if that’s what’s needed.
After the appointment
Most children bounce straight back, often slightly startled by how loud everything suddenly sounds. That’s a good sign.
- Keep water out of their ears for a day or two if the canal looked a little irritated. A cotton wool ball smeared with petroleum jelly works well at bath time.
- Remind them not to poke anything into their ears, which is easier said than done with a curious five-year-old.
- Watch for any change over the next few days. If they hear better and stop tugging, the wax was the culprit. If not, go back, as the free follow-up is there for exactly that.
Cost and practical details
At Hearology® London Bridge, children’s ear cleaning for ages three to 12 is £199 for a 30-minute appointment, with teenagers booked separately. Check the clinic’s current price list when you book. The price is the same whether one or both ears need clearing, and free follow-up appointments are included within two weeks if the wax is stubborn. Children’s appointments need to be paid in advance and can be changed without penalty up to 24 hours before.
If you’ve been meaning to sort out your own ears too, the clinic also offers adult microsuction ear wax removal in London Bridge in 15-minute appointments, so one Saturday trip can cover the whole family.
Getting to the London Bridge clinic with children
- From London Bridge station: about five minutes on foot, down Borough High Street and right onto Southwark Street.
- From Borough tube: around eight minutes’ walk.
- With a buggy: the clinic is wheelchair accessible, which makes arriving with a pushchair far easier.
A Saturday visit also pairs nicely with a wander round Borough Market afterwards, which is a decent bribe for a child who sat still.
What about hearing tests for children?
Hearology’s hearing tests are for adults over 18. If you’re worried about your child’s hearing beyond a possible wax build-up, speak to your GP, health visitor or school nurse, who can refer your child to NHS paediatric audiology.
Quick answers
What age can children have ear cleaning? From age three at Hearology® London Bridge.
Does it hurt? It shouldn’t. Most children describe a tickle and a noisy whoosh.
When is the children’s clinic? Most Saturdays, with some weekday availability by phone.
Do I need a GP referral? No, you can book directly.
Can I stay with my child? Yes. A parent or guardian stays in the room, and many children are happiest sitting on a lap.
Is microsuction safe for young children? In experienced hands, yes. The surgical microscope lets the clinician see the canal and eardrum clearly throughout, and the procedure stops straight away if your child becomes distressed or can’t keep still.
What if my child has grommets? Tell the clinic when you book. Microsuction is often still possible, but the clinician will want to know beforehand so they can take extra care around the eardrum.