Course in Ear Wax Removal (Microsuction)

This course provides the opportunity to perform ear health examinations, basic point of care hearing evaluations, and understand the risks and complications of wax microsuction.

The course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to provide management strategies, recognise complications and risks associated with microsuction and identify referral pathways for specialist care in relation to a range of conditions associated with microsuction, based on detailed pre-requisite knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the auditory system.

Vocational outcomes include:

• Enhanced clinical practice
• Addition of skills to scope of practice
• Ear health assessment clinical skills.

Specialist skills:

• Point of care hearing assessment
• Otoscopy
• Wax removal by microsuction

The face-to-face workshop involves anatomy and physiology refresher, principles of microsuction and practical activities including condition recognition, ear health assessment, otoscopy and depth perception, curettage and microsuction techniques for wax removal.

Students work with peers in the classroom to conduct simulated examination as part of the practical skills activities.

Practice and assessments are performed on a mannequin, and the workshop focuses on wax removal using microsuction including the legal and consent issues involving ear microsuction.

On successful completion of the course, students should have the skills and knowledge to:

• Establishing the need for microsuction and assessing the client’s physical and pathophysiological auditory status.
• Applying the fit and use of a binocular head-worn microscope. Examine and select the tools required to perform ear wax removal.
• Classify and prepare equipment for microsuction.
• Perform ear wax removal and/or ear canal microsuctioning procedures if deemed appropriate and safe.
• Provide post-procedure care.

Entrants to the Course in Ear Wax Removal (Microsuction) must provide evidence of a relevant professional role. Relevant roles would include:

• Registered Nurses
• Enrolled Nurses
• Audiologists
• Audiometrists
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners
• General Practitioners
• Others on application.

It is recommended entrants have:

• A minimum of six months’ employment or experience working with clients in a clinical environment
• High language, literacy, and numeracy levels – sufficient to interpret medical documents/referrals/requests, written medical notes and reports.

Purchase our Course in Ear Wax Removal (Microsuction) ($500) and our Hearing and Ear Health Foundations for Healthcare Professionals Course ($95) in our Bundle and SAVE $95.

• Separate total cost $595
• Bundle cost: $500

Purchase the Bundle HERE

It is recommended students review the Foundations of Ear Health Course prior to attendance at the workshop.

• Full day face-to-face workshop
• Oral questioning on essential knowledge and skills
• Demonstration of skills in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions

To achieve competency students must demonstrate successful completion of:

• Oral questioning on essential knowledge and skills
• Demonstration of skills in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions

Microsuction is a strategic treatment option for ear health, whether it is a foreign body or wax removal that is required. This course requires a strong understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the ear. Build the knowledge of when to use microsuction, as a technique, with practice and assessments using mannequins to enhance capability, and strengthen patient care.

The face-to-face workshop involves lecture and practical workshop activities involving condition recognition, ear health assessment, monocular otoscopy, digital video otoscopy, and microsuction technique for wax removal.

Students work with peers in the classroom to conduct simulated examinations as part of the practical skills activities.

The workshop focuses on wax removal using microsuction including the legal and consent issues involving microsuction.

Students enrolled in Benchmarque Group courses should adhere to the following principles:

• Display a commitment to learning and to achieving success
• Be responsible and accountable for their own learning, behaviour and decisions
• Actively participate in all workshop activities and learning experiences
• Attend all scheduled sessions and be punctual at all times
• Complete all online assessments and workplace practice activities
• Work in harmony and respect the rights and opinions of staff and other students
• Treat others as they themselves would like to be treated
• Use acceptable language at all times

The expected duration for completion is 12 months. Students are encouraged to complete their assessments within twelve weeks of completion of the face-to-face classroom delivery, however they have up to twelve months to submit the online assessments. The duration time is calculated from when a student attends their face-to-face classroom delivery. Within the accessIQ platform, students will be provided an initial six months to complete and submit all required self-directed and online assessment activities.

Friendly email reminders will be sent to students to ensure an assessment is completed on time. At the completion of the 6-month period, students can request up to a maximum of two extensions, each extension being for a period of 90 days.

If the entire 12-month period expires and a final assessment has not been submitted, The Benchmarque Group reserves the right to deem the assessment Not Competent and remove the student from the course.

No, but we strongly recommend completing the Hearing and Ear Health Foundations for Healthcare Professionals prior to attending. It is a great way to learn or refresh your memory on the fundamentals of ear health, particularly a detailed knowledge of anatomy and physiology, in preparation for this program. Access to this online program is offered as a bundled packed for this course.

This program is designed for individuals for whom ear wax removal is part of their scope of practice and you are required to learn this skill for your current job role. Please see entry requirements for the list of relevant roles. We would strongly recommend completing the Hearing and Ear Health Foundations for Healthcare Professionals prior to attending. It is a great way to learn or revise the fundamentals of ear health in order to better prepare you for this program.

This program takes approximately 8 hours of active learning. The hours of active learning should act as a guide to CPD hours. It is the responsibility of the individual student to calculate how many hours of active learning they have completed. As a general guide, one hour of active learning equates to one hour of CPD.

If you have Astigmatism in your eyes, participation in this course and performing microsuction may not be suitable for you. The course utilises Converged Binocular Optics, an essential tool for depth perception. Astigmatism (in one eye) spoils your eye's natural binocular vision.

No, you are not required to complete both programs, just the program that best addresses your workplace needs. Ear Wax Removal (Irrigation) and Ear Wax Removal (Microsuction) programs involve separate units of competency supporting different practices for ear wax removal.

The GP stream is available only to GP's or Audiologists. This is due to the condensed nature of the course with the reduced theory and greater focus on the practical application of microsuction.