How Much Does Ear Wax Removal Cost in Australia?

Professional ear wax removal in Australia usually costs between $80 and $200, depending on who does it and which method they use. At The Audiology Place, microsuction costs $160 per appointment, which covers both ears and a consultation with an audiologist. The fee is the same whether one ear needs clearing or both. Medicare does not pay a rebate when an audiologist removes wax, though some private health funds pay part of the cost under extras cover for audiology. I’m writing this because patients arrive at our clinics every week unsure what wax removal involves, what it should cost and whether they could have had it done for free. You should have those answers before you book.

What you’ll pay, by provider

General practitioners often remove wax as part of a standard consultation, so if your GP bulk-bills you pay nothing out of pocket. GPs usually use irrigation (often called syringing), which flushes the ear canal with warm water. It works well on soft wax that isn’t impacted, but it carries a higher risk of perforating the eardrum and can’t be used if you’ve had ear surgery, have a current infection or already have a perforated eardrum. Some practices no longer offer wax removal at all, so ring ahead before you book. Audiologists generally charge $80 to $200 for microsuction or dry removal, and large hearing chains publish prices from around $110. At our Forestville and Epping clinics, professional ear wax removal costs $160, including microsuction for both ears and a consultation. It isn’t bulk-billed and Medicare doesn’t cover it. If your extras cover includes audiology or hearing services, your fund may pay $40 to $80 of the fee, but check your policy first. ENT specialists charge consultation fees from $150 to $350 or more. With a GP referral, Medicare pays a rebate on the consultation: $88.40 for an initial specialist consultation in rooms (MBS item 104, from 1 July 2026). The gap you pay is usually similar to or higher than an audiologist’s fee, and you’ll typically wait weeks for an appointment rather than days.

What Medicare, private health, DVA and the Hearing Services Program cover

Medicare does not pay a rebate for ear wax removal performed by an audiologist. This surprises people, because microsuction is a clinical procedure that needs specialised equipment and training, but it is not a Medicare-rebatable service when an audiologist provides it. If you see an ENT specialist with a GP referral, Medicare pays a rebate under item 104 (initial consultation) or 105 (subsequent consultation). The rebate is for the consultation, not for the wax removal itself, and you pay the gap between the rebate and the specialist’s fee. Private health insurance varies widely. If your extras cover includes audiology or hearing services, some funds contribute toward the cost, either on the spot through HICAPS or after you submit the receipt. If your policy only covers hearing aid fittings or hearing assessments, wax removal may not be included. Check with your fund before you book. DVA Gold Card holders can have wax removed by their GP at no cost under the card. Whether DVA will fund microsuction by an audiologist depends on your card and circumstances, so call us before you book and we’ll check. The Hearing Services Program voucher scheme is open to Australian citizens and permanent residents aged 26 and over who hold a Pensioner Concession Card, a DVA Gold Card or a DVA White Card that covers hearing loss, or who receive a Centrelink sickness allowance. People under 26 are covered through Hearing Australia’s Community Service Obligations program instead. Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders are not eligible. The program does not fund standalone wax removal appointments, though if wax is found during a subsidised hearing assessment it can sometimes be managed in that appointment, depending on the provider.

Microsuction, irrigation and manual removal

The method affects both cost and safety, and not every method suits every patient. Microsuction is the standard method in audiology clinics. A low-pressure suction device removes the wax while the clinician watches through an operating microscope or high-powered loupes. It’s dry and controlled, and it is generally suitable for people with a perforated eardrum, previous ear surgery or an active infection, all of which rule out water. The suction itself takes 10 to 20 minutes and is usually comfortable, though the rushing noise is loud. At The Audiology Place we use microsuction rather than irrigation because nothing wet goes into the ear and the clinician can see every movement under magnification. Most ENT departments and audiologists prefer it for the same reason. Irrigation flushes the ear canal with water, either from a metal syringe (the old method, now uncommon) or an electronic irrigator that delivers a controlled stream of warm water. It’s quicker and cheaper to perform, which is why GPs have traditionally offered it. A surprisingly large number of people shouldn’t have it: anyone with a history of perforation, chronic ear infections, grommets or mastoid surgery, or anyone for whom the affected ear is their only hearing ear. Perforations are uncommon but do happen, and water in the ear can leave you dizzy for a short time afterwards. Manual removal with a curette or probe under direct vision is sometimes needed for very hard, impacted wax or foreign objects. It takes longer and needs steady hands and good lighting. ENT specialists use it more often than audiologists, though experienced clinicians combine techniques depending on what they find. At our clinics we examine your ear canal with video otoscopy before choosing a method. If microsuction isn’t suitable, for example when rock-hard wax is sitting against a sensitive eardrum, we’ll soften it first or refer you to an ENT if instruments would be safer. Not every case is straightforward, and anyone who tells you otherwise hasn’t seen enough ears.

What happens at an ear wax removal appointment

Appointments usually take about 15 minutes, and we book 30 so nobody is rushed. We start by examining your ear canal with a video otoscope, which shows a live image on a screen so you can see what we see. This tells us whether wax is the problem or whether something else is going on, such as an outer ear infection, a foreign object, a perforated eardrum or a polyp that needs ENT review. If there is wax and the canal is healthy, we go ahead with microsuction. You sit in the chair, we place a small speculum to hold the canal open, and we guide the suction tip under the microscope. It sounds like a vacuum cleaner next to your ear, but it’s over quickly. If the wax is very dry or impacted, we may apply a softening agent and wait a few minutes, or ask you to use olive oil drops at home for a few days and come back. Once the wax is out, we check the canal and eardrum again. If there’s inflammation, infection or anything unusual about the eardrum, we’ll explain the next step, which might be a GP visit for antibiotic drops or an ENT referral. No GP referral is needed, and our Epping clinic often has same-day appointments, which is a real advantage over waiting weeks for an ENT. You can book ear wax removal online.

When you shouldn’t pay for ear wax removal

Not every blocked ear is wax. I’ve seen dozens of patients who paid for wax removal elsewhere and arrived at our clinic with a completely clear canal and an underlying hearing loss, Eustachian tube dysfunction or fluid behind the eardrum that suction was never going to fix. See a doctor first if:

• • you have sudden hearing loss in one ear. This is a medical emergency, so see a GP or go to an emergency department the same day. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss, acoustic neuroma and stroke can all start this way.

• • you have severe pain, discharge or fever, which point to infection rather than wax

• • you’ve had a recent head injury

• • you have vertigo or significant dizziness

Consider an ENT referral if:

• • several attempts at wax removal have failed

• • you have a known cholesteatoma or chronic ear disease

• • you have a narrowed ear canal or bony growths in the canal (surfer’s ear)

• • the wax is impacted against the eardrum and won’t soften with drops

There’s no point paying $160 for microsuction if the real problem is a perforated eardrum or fluid in the middle ear. A good clinician will tell you when wax removal isn’t the answer.

What our $160 fee covers

Ear wax removal is a straightforward clinical service, and you should know what it costs before you walk in. Our $160 fee covers the consultation, video otoscopy, microsuction of both ears and a check of the eardrum afterwards. It reflects the time, equipment and expertise involved. It isn’t subsidised by hearing aid sales, and we won’t steer you into a hearing aid consultation you didn’t ask for. If you need ongoing hearing care after wax removal, we’ll discuss it. If you don’t, you’re done in half an hour.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get ear wax removal bulk-billed?

Yes, if a bulk-billing GP removes it during a standard consultation, usually by irrigation. Medicare does not cover microsuction by an audiologist.

Is it cheaper to have only one ear done?

Not at The Audiology Place. The $160 fee is the same whether one ear or both need clearing.

Where can I get my ears cleaned?

A GP, an audiologist or an ENT specialist. You don’t need a referral to see an audiologist. You need a GP referral to claim the Medicare rebate for an ENT consultation.

Does private health insurance cover ear wax removal?

Some extras policies with audiology or hearing services cover part of the cost. Policies that only cover hearing aids or hearing tests may not, so check with your fund.