How wax affects sound
When ear wax builds up, it can block the ear canal. This changes how sound reaches your eardrum, and sounds can seem muffled.
Nurse-led appointments
Fully insured
ICO registered ZC139259
Specialist ear care training
Understanding tinnitus
What is tinnitus?
Hearing sounds that come from inside your head rather than the world around you.
Tinnitus is the medical term for hearing sounds that do not come from an external source. People describe it as ringing, buzzing, whistling, hissing, humming or even a pulsing sound. It can be constant or come and go, and may affect one ear or both.
Everyone’s tinnitus is different. Our tone tool helps you describe the sound you hear, so you can talk it through with us at your appointment.
Did you know? Tinnitus does not sound the same for everyone. Some people describe a high ring; others notice a buzz, hiss, hum, pulse or whoosh. The exact word matters less than describing the pattern clearly.
A quick tour
How your ear works
Sound makes a short journey through three parts of your ear before your brain hears it. Tap a number on the picture, or open a part below, to see what it does.
1Outer earThe pinna · outer ear
This is the part you can see. It is made of ridged cartilage and skin, and its shape helps collect sound and guide it into your ear.
2Ear canalOuter ear
A short tunnel that leads from the outside to your eardrum. Sound travels along it.
3EardrumThe tympanic membrane · middle ear
A thin membrane at the end of the canal. It vibrates when sound reaches it, and it separates the outer ear from the middle ear.
4Three tiny bonesMalleus, incus, stapes · middle ear
Three tiny linked bones, called the malleus, incus and stapes. They carry the eardrum’s vibrations to the inner ear and make them stronger.
5Eustachian tubeMiddle ear
A narrow tube joining the middle ear to the back of your throat. It helps keep the air pressure in your ears balanced, and it opens when you yawn, sneeze or swallow.
6CochleaThe hearing organ · inner ear
A snail-shaped, fluid-filled part of the inner ear, lined with tiny hair cells. Vibrations move the fluid, the fluid moves the hair cells, and the hair cells turn that movement into electrical signals.
7Balance loopsSemicircular canals · inner ear
Three fluid-filled loops next to the cochlea. They are for balance, not hearing: they tell your brain which way your head is moving.
8Nerves to the brainThe way on to the brain
Signals from the cochlea travel along nerve fibres to the brain, which turns them into the sounds you recognise. Balance information travels along its own nerve, the vestibular nerve.
General information only, not medical advice.
Book an ear health check, £35Your ears
What ear wax does
Ear wax can build up in the ear canal. Our nurse can look inside your ears, check for wax, and remove it where suitable.
A quick look inside
A nurse can look inside your ear in under a minute and tell you what she sees. Where wax is present and removal is suitable, it can usually be done in the same appointment. We can’t say what causes tinnitus.
Living with tinnitus
What may help
Some people like to try gentle sound and a calm routine. These are examples, not a treatment.
Gentle background sound
Some people like gentle background sound in quiet rooms. Keep it soft and comfortable.
Quieter nights
A softly lit room, a steady bedtime routine and low background sound are things some people like in the evening.
A calm moment
Take a slow, steady minute whenever you need one.
Keep the volume comfortable. These are examples, not a treatment.
Tone matching tool
Find the tone that matches what you're hearing
Play a tone quietly and adjust until it matches the sound in your ears. This tool does not diagnose tinnitus and is not a substitute for medical advice.
Start very low, keep it brief, and stop if it hurts.
1
MatchFind the closest pitch to the sound you hear
2
NoteWrite down the tone and which ear it's in
3
ShareCopy a link with your settings to bring to your appointment
Rough approximations only — your tinnitus may differ. Use the full tool below to fine-tune.
1.00 kHz
B5
Current frequency · musical note
Frequency
Hz
Common frequencies — tap to jump
Waveform — sound character
Ear channel
Volume
15%Safe default is 15% — lower is better when matching tinnitus.
Found your match?
Copy a link with your exact settings to bring to your appointment.
Keyboard: Space = play/pause · ← → = fine tune · Shift + ← → = 1 Hz steps
Sound therapy examples
Some people use gentle background sound to make tinnitus less noticeable in quiet rooms. Keep it softer than the tinnitus itself.
Choose a sound
Sounds likea fan, or a radio between stations. An even hiss.
Sounds likesteady rain. Softer than white noise, with less hiss.
Sounds likea distant waterfall or wind. A deep, low rumble.
Timer
Ready
Timer
White noise
Set a soft volume, then press Play
15%
Keep volume comfortable and below your tinnitus level. These are examples, not a medical treatment.
Questions answered
Tinnitus questions
Straight answers to the questions we hear most about tinnitus and ear wax.
Can you check my ears for wax?
Yes. Our nurse looks inside both ears and tells you what she sees. We can’t say what causes tinnitus.
Can you remove ear wax?
Where wax is present and removal is suitable, yes. It is usually done in the same appointment, using microsuction or irrigation. We can’t promise any change to tinnitus.
Can this tool diagnose tinnitus?
No. It helps you describe what you hear, so you can talk it through at your appointment. It is not a hearing test or a diagnosis.
Should I play the tone loudly?
No. Start very low. Loud tones can be uncomfortable. The goal is gentle comparison, not masking.
What happens at an ear health check?
Our nurse looks inside both ears, checks for wax or anything else that might be causing the sound, and explains plainly what she finds. Where suitable, wax is removed in the same appointment.
Do I need a referral to book?
No referral needed — book online or give us a ring. Ear health checks start from £35, and wax removal in clinic from £55.
How much do appointments cost?
Ear health checks from £35, clinic wax removal from £55 and home visits from £70. You can see current prices and live availability when you book online.
Book with confidence
Qualified nurseEvery appointment is nurse-led, start to finish.
Fully insuredClinic appointments and home visits are both fully covered.
ICO registeredZC139259 — Data Protection certified.
Specialist ear care trainingModern microsuction and ear health check techniques.
Ready when you are
Ready to book your ear health check?
A quick ear health check with our qualified nurse. Safe, gentle care across Cleveleys, Blackpool and the Fylde Coast.
Clinic from £55 · Home visits from £70 · Ear health checks from £35