Earwax or medically known as cerumen (seh-ROO-mun) is a waxy substance made up of a mixture of dead skin cells, skin oil, sweat, and occasionally hair. It protects your ears by trapping dust and debris. However, it can build up due to narrow ear canals, use of hearing aids or earbuds, or frequent use of cotton swabs, which can push wax deeper.

You might notice:

Reduced hearing

A feeling of fullness in the ear

Ringing (tinnitus)

Earache or itching

Dizziness in some cases

It’s not recommended. Cotton swabs often push wax further into the canal, increasing the risk of impaction or injury. Professional cleaning is a safer, more effective option.

We do not recommend ear candling. Despite its popularity in some wellness circles, studies have shown that ear candling is not effective for removing wax and may actually be dangerous. It can lead to burns, ear canal injuries, or even wax and debris being pushed deeper into the ear.

We use gentle, best-practice methods such as microsuction or manual removal under direct visualization with a microscope. These techniques are safe, precise, and typically painless.

Yes. Our licensed medical professionals are trained in otologic care and use tools and techniques that minimize discomfort and risk. We also perform an exam before and after treatment.

Most people find it comfortable or mildly ticklish. If wax is deeply impacted or the ear canal is inflamed, there may be brief discomfort—but we adjust the technique to keep you comfortable.

Microsuction under binocular otomicroscopy is a more precise, controlled, and medically advanced method of earwax removal. It allows the clinician to view the ear canal in real-time through a binocular microscope, ensuring safe and complete removal of wax using gentle suction or specialized instruments.

In contrast, irrigations or rinses (commonly done at Urgent Care or Primary Care offices) involve flushing the ear with water, often without direct visualization. This can sometimes miss wax, push it deeper, or cause discomfort—especially in patients with narrow canals, eardrum issues, or a history of ear infections.

Our method minimizes risk and is ideal for patients who want a thorough and comfortable experience, particularly those with complex ear anatomy or prior complications from irrigation.

Yes! One of the unique benefits of our service is that you can watch your ear cleaning in real time. We use a surgical-grade binocular microscope with a video monitor, so you can see exactly what’s happening inside your ear as we gently remove the wax.

Many patients find it fascinating—and reassuring—to see the process and understand what's causing their symptoms. Of course, if you’d rather not watch, that’s perfectly okay too!

Great question! After a professional cleaning, most people don’t need to do anything daily to maintain clean ears. The ears are self-cleaning for many individuals. However, here are a few tips to help prevent buildup:

Avoid using cotton swabs—they can push wax deeper and lead to impaction.

Limit use of earbuds if possible—we recommend using over the ear headphones instead.

Stay hydrated and manage allergies or dry skin conditions, as these can affect wax production.

Use ear-safe drops or moisturizers (like a drop of mineral oil or over-the-hydrogen peroxide) once a week to keep the ears clean.

Schedule routine professional cleanings if you're prone to buildup—we’ll recommend a timeline based on your needs.

It varies from person to person. Some need regular cleanings every few months, while others may only need it once a year. We'll help you determine a schedule based on your needs after your first visit.

Yes. CERA Ear Clinic is staffed by licensed physician assistants with advanced training in ear health. We are qualified to diagnose and treat a range of ear conditions and can prescribe medication when clinically appropriate—such as for infections, inflammation, or other medical concerns discovered during your visit.

Yes! We offer same-day and next-day appointments for your convenience. Book online or call us to check availability.

The price for simple removal from both ears is $99.

However, this pricing can be influenced by complexity or severity of the wax impaction. The price for complex cleaning or an infection is $149.

For any foreign object removals such as beads or insects, the price is $199.

Believe it or not, depending on insurance coverage, sometimes the cost for your copay and procedure bill can be more than what CERA charges.

If there’s no wax impaction and only an ear examination is performed, your visit will be adjusted to our evaluation-only rate of $49. This includes a full visual exam of the ear canal using a surgical microscope and a discussion of your ear health findings.

We believe in fair, transparent pricing—you’re only charged for the care you actually receive.

To secure your appointment, we require a reservation fee of $25 at the time of booking. This fee is applied toward your total balance and helps us ensure availability for each patient. The remaining amount will be collected at the end of your visit.

We accept credit, debit, HSA/FSA cards, and Venmo/Zelle at the time of service.

We understand that insurance is important to many people, and this decision wasn’t made lightly. By choosing not to bill insurance directly, we’re able to keep our care simple, transparent, and accessible—without the delays, restrictions, or limitations that often come with insurance networks. This allows us to spend more time focused on your care, offer same-day appointments, and maintain affordable, upfront pricing without surprise bills. We’re happy to provide a detailed receipt (superbill) that you can submit to your insurance provider for potential out-of-network reimbursement, and we accept HSA and FSA cards as well.

We serve all ages—from children to seniors. Patients who wear hearing aids, use earbuds frequently, or experience recurring wax buildup benefit most. 

Yes. We treat children safely and gently, using child-appropriate techniques. We always prioritize comfort and explain the process to both the child and caregiver beforehand.

Look for signs like:

Complaints of muffled hearing

Ear discomfort or tugging at the ear

Trouble following conversations

Sudden changes in behavior or school performance

Not always. Some kids produce more wax than others, especially those with narrow ear canals or skin conditions. We’ll assess your child and make personalized recommendations.

Yes, we are trained and equipped to safely remove foreign objects from a child’s ear in a calm, reassuring environment. Using specialized tools and direct visualization under a microscope and other instrumentation, we can gently extract items like beads, small toys, or food particles without causing trauma to the ear canal or eardrum, unlike at the Urgent Care or Emergency Room.

Yes. Excessive earwax can temporarily muffle hearing, which may impact language development or listening skills. A quick exam can rule this out.

Some OTC products may be safe, but they aren’t always effective—and they’re not recommended in cases of pain, drainage, or if your child has ear tubes. When in doubt, let us evaluate before using them.

Yes, we regularly treat patients who use hearing aids or other hearing devices. In fact, these individuals are often more prone to earwax buildup, which can affect both hearing clarity and device performance.

Yes! CERA Ear Clinic is a mobile medical clinic—we can bring professional ear care directly to your home or office.

Yes! CERA Ear Clinic proudly partners with companies to provide on-site ear health services as part of corporate wellness programs. Our mobile clinic makes it easy and convenient to bring professional ear cleanings directly to your workplace, helping employees hear better, feel better, and stay productive.

Interested in booking us for your next wellness event? Contact us at info@ceraearclinic.com or call (847) 305-6594 to learn more about availability and group rates.

CERA Ear Clinic is a mobile medical clinic, so we bring expert ear care directly to you! We’re typically parked at [insert regular location], but you can also find us at a variety of Chicago-area events throughout the year, including farmers markets, street festivals, community fairs, and pop-up wellness events. We partner with assisted living facilities, gyms, and spas as well.

Follow us on social media or check our website calendar to see where we’ll be next!

To respect everyone’s time, we kindly ask for at least 24 hours’ notice for any cancellations or reschedules. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice may result in the reservation fee being non-refundable.

If you have questions or need to make changes to your appointment, please contact us—we’re here to help.

Please plan to be ready at least 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment time, especially for mobile or home visits. This helps us stay on schedule and provide the best care possible.

If you are more than 10 minutes late, we may not be able to accommodate your visit, and your reservation fee will be nonrefundable.

CERA Ear Clinic proudly offers in-home visits for patients who prefer the convenience of care delivered right to their door.

To help cover the time, transportation, and setup involved in providing mobile services, a standard travel fee of $45 is applied to all house call appointments within our service area.

If your location is more than 15 miles from our home base, an additional distance-based fee will apply: $5 per additional mile beyond. We’ll always confirm any travel charges with you before your appointment is booked, so there are no surprises.

Have questions about whether we can come to your neighborhood? Contact us at info@ceraearclinic.com or call (847) 305-6594 and we’ll be happy to help.