The Purpose of this SOP is to enable:
- Correct treatment of otitis externa where the meatus is obscured by debris
- Improve conduction of sound to the tympanic membrane when it is blocked by wax
- Remove discharge, keratin or debris to allow examination of the EAM and the tympanic membrane
- Remove wax in order to facilitate hearing aid mould impressions
- Facilitate the removal of wax and foreign bodies, which are not hygroscopic, from the EAM. Hygroscopic matter (such as peas and lentils) will absorb the water and expand, making removal more difficult