At Hear with Ish, every journey starts with ear health you can see and understand. That’s why we use the TympaHealth audiology platform as our first step in clinic, combining high‑definition video otoscopy with safe in‑clinic microsuction when appropriate so we can move smoothly into testing and tailored care without unnecessary delays. If you like neutral background reading, the NHS guide to hearing tests explains what to expect during assessment, while the NHS earwax guidance sets out when removal is recommended so you know why we prioritise clear canals before we test.
This article explains why Hear with Ish partners with TympaHealth, what the technology adds to a modern ear appointment, how our “ear health first” workflow actually runs, when and why we use microsuction, and how HD imagery helps you make shared decisions confidently. You’ll also see where we pause and refer for medical review when that is safest, with neutral context from the RNID guide to what happens in an audiology appointment so the clinical reasoning remains transparent throughout.
Why we partner with TympaHealth at Hear with Ish
Our goal is simple: a calm, efficient appointment where you leave with answers, not more questions. TympaHealth gives us high‑definition digital otoscopy and an on‑the‑spot, clinician‑controlled route to wax removal when it’s appropriate, which means fewer visits and a clearer path into your hearing assessment. We integrate the TympaHealth audiology platform into our routine because it lets you see exactly what we see on‑screen while we agree the next step together in plain English.
What Tympa adds to a modern ear‑health appointment
Clear vision inside the ear canal is the foundation of good hearing care, and HD video otoscopy allows us to examine and explain findings with photographs or short clips so you can follow the discussion without jargon. When wax is part of the story, controlled microsuction under direct vision is often the most practical approach, which we deliver within the same appointment so you are not sent elsewhere to start again. Because the imagery is stored in your record, we can compare like‑for‑like at follow‑ups, making reviews faster and more precise the next time you visit.
The Hear with Ish workflow (step by step)
We begin with a focused conversation about your symptoms and day‑to‑day listening, then perform HD video otoscopy to check the canal and eardrum carefully before we do anything else in clinic. If everything looks healthy, we transition into a calibrated appointment that reflects the stages set out in the NHS guide to hearing tests so your results map to how you actually live. If wax is present and suitable for removal, we discuss microsuction there and then, explain what we are doing on‑screen, and confirm a clear canal before we proceed to your tests. When the assessment is complete, we talk through the results together and, if appropriate, explore options on our hearing solutions page so your choices feel informed rather than rushed. If your priority is resolving wax first, you can also go straight to earwax removal and then book your hearing assessment once your ears are comfortable and ready.
Earwax: when we remove it and when we don’t
Earwax protects and moisturises the canal, so removal is not always necessary; we decide based on what we see, what you feel, and whether wax is likely to affect testing or comfort. The NHS earwax guidance summarises common indications for removal and explains why some people are more prone to build‑up over time, which mirrors the judgement we use day to day. For readers who like neutral context about the wider appointment pathway, the RNID guide to what happens in an audiology appointment outlines how ear care and hearing assessment fit together in a typical UK journey so it’s clear why “ear health first” makes practical sense.
“See what I see” and shared decisions
Many people find confidence comes from understanding, and nothing builds understanding more quickly than seeing your own ear canal on‑screen while we talk. HD imagery lets us point out the landmarks of the eardrum, show a wax plug if one is present, and explain how we’ll approach removal safely if you agree that’s the right step. More importantly, this is where the decisions become genuinely shared: you can ask questions, we can show the answer visually, and together we choose the route that balances safety, comfort and speed.
Faster to answers, fewer repeat visits
Traditional pathways often separate “ear check”, “wax removal” and “hearing test” into different appointments. Tympa changes that for suitable cases by putting high‑definition visualisation and clinician‑controlled removal in the same room as your Audiology appointment, which allows us to progress into testing without a multi‑week pause. When you’ve taken the time to attend, this consolidated approach respects that time and keeps the momentum of care moving forwards.
Why clear canals improve the quality of your assessment
A blocked or partially blocked canal can reduce the sound reaching the eardrum and give thresholds that don’t reflect your true hearing, which is why we always look first, clear where appropriate, and then test. The NHS guide to hearing tests explains the role of calibrated measurements and speech checks in a straightforward way, and those measures are most useful when we know the ear canal is clear, the eardrum is visible and the pathway for sound is unobstructed.
Better impressions and fittings later on
If hearing aids become part of your plan, impressions or ear‑scans are sometimes needed, especially for custom in‑ear designs. Wax can distort impressions, reduce comfort or affect retention, so we prefer a “clear first, fit second” process that starts with Tympa imagery and, where suitable, microsuction. Once your ears are clear and healthy, we can take accurate impressions, discuss styles and connectivity, and map your preferences to the practical options on our hearing solutions page so you get a device you actually enjoy wearing.
When we pause and refer
Safety always comes first. If imagery suggests a finding that is best addressed by your GP or by ENT, we will pause and signpost appropriately rather than pushing ahead with in‑clinic procedures. That approach aligns with the independent expectations set out by the RNID guide to what happens in an audiology appointment, and it’s one of the reasons people tell us they feel looked after even when the outcome is “wait and refer” rather than immediate treatment.
Preparing for your appointment
A little preparation makes your appointment smoother. If you suspect wax, you can use softening drops for a few days unless you have been told not to because of a specific ear history described in the NHS earwax guidance, and if you already know the environments you find most difficult—busy restaurants, meetings, cars or echoey rooms—bring those examples so we can tailor the calibrated stages described by the NHS guide to hearing tests to your real world. If you prefer to resolve wax first, you can book earwax removal directly and then arrange your hearing assessment once your ears feel comfortable and ready for testing.
Practical aftercare once ears are clear
A clean canal today is a good start; staying comfortable is about small habits tomorrow. We’ll show you how to brush around the sound outlet carefully if you wear hearing aids, how to change wax guards on schedule, and how to avoid pushing wax deeper with cotton buds. Where build‑up is recurrent, we’ll suggest a sensible review cadence so you don’t slide back into avoidable muffling between appointments. If you already use the myPhonak or similar app with your hearing aids, we can also check that your own cleaning routines and battery or charging habits are set up to keep things reliable.
FAQs
Is Tympa a replacement for a full hearing test?
No, Tympa helps us examine your ear canal with HD imagery and remove wax safely when appropriate, after which we carry out a calibrated appointment that follows the stages outlined in the NHS guide to hearing tests so you get a complete picture rather than a quick screening alone.
Is microsuction safe?
When performed by trained professionals and chosen for the right cases, microsuction is widely used in audiology and ENT. The indications and caveats are similar to those described in the NHS earwax guidance, which is why we assess first with imagery and explain what we’re doing before we start.
Will I be able to see what you see?
Yes, we share HD images or short clips on‑screen and store them in your record so you can understand decisions as we make them together and so we can compare like‑for‑like at follow‑ups.
What if you find something that needs medical review?
We will pause and signpost to your GP or ENT rather than pushing ahead in clinic, which mirrors the safety‑first flow described in the RNID guide to what happens in an audiology appointment, and we’ll provide the imagery that explains why.
Ready to take the next step
If you want a conversation about ear health and hearing, you can book a hearing assessment so we can examine your ears, clear wax where appropriate and move straight into diagnostics without unnecessary delay in Leicester. If your priority is comfort first, you can arrange earwax removal and then explore options on our hearing solutions page once you’re ready, and if you’d like to ask a question before booking you can use our contact page so we plan the right next step together.