Patient Care Consent

Welcome to modernised Audiology.

We believe that exceptional ear care is built on transparent communication, physical safety, and mutual respect. This page explains what you can expect during your appointment and how we partner with you to look after your hearing health.

1. Your Care, Your Choice

This overview applies to all of the professional clinical services we provide. By proceeding with an appointment at Waves Hearing, you are partnering with our qualified clinicians to perform the necessary assessments and procedures to manage your ear health. We always discuss our findings with you before beginning any treatment.

2. What We Do: Our Clinical Procedures

Depending on your unique needs, your clinician may recommend one or more of the following specialized procedures:

  • Gentle Ear Clearance: Safe removal of earwax, dry skin, or debris. We use professional methods tailored to your comfort, including aural microsuction (a gentle vacuum), manual removal (using specialized curettes or loops), or warm water irrigation.

  • Diagnostics & Precision Testing: We perform visual examinations of your ear canal (otoscopy) and comprehensive hearing assessments (audiometry). If you are fitted with hearing aids, we use Real Ear Measurements (REMs)—which involve placing a tiny probe microphone into the ear canal - to verify that your hearing aids are perfectly calibrated to your prescription.

  • Custom Ear Impressions: To create custom ear-pieces or hearing instruments, we gently place a small foam or cotton dam into your ear canal before applying a soft silicone impression material to mould the exact physical shape of your ear.

3. Your Safety and Comfort

Your safety is our absolute priority. All procedures are performed to the highest British professional standards (BAA/BSA).

  • Understanding the Risks: While these treatments are routine and safe, minor side effects like small canal abrasions, bruising, mild temporary bleeding, a brief flare-up of tinnitus, or mild discomfort can occasionally happen. Extremely rare but possible risks include eardrum perforation or infection.

  • Pause or stop: You are always in control and being monitored throughout. Any indications from you of discomfort, or if you feel sudden pain, distress, or simply need a break, we will stop immediately.

  • Staying Still: For your safety, it is very important to remain adequately still while we work. If you feel an unexpected cough, sneeze, or movement coming on, please let your clinician know immediately so they can safely pull back.

  • Your Medical History: To keep you safe, we rely on accurate information regarding your ears. Please let us know if you are taking blood-thinning medication, have had previous ear surgeries, or have a history of an existing eardrum perforation.

4. Paediatric Care & Our Promise to Children

We treat your mini humans with the utmost care and emotional sensitivity too.

  • Parental Support: As the legal parent or guardian, you authorise our clinician to perform these procedures on your child.

  • The Right to Stop: Children have a voice in our clinic. In line with our detailed Safeguarding Policy, our clinicians reserve the right to cease a procedure if:

    • The child is unable to remain sufficiently still to ensure their physical safety.

    • The child appears distressed or uncomfortable to the point that continuing would not be in their best clinical or emotional interest.

  • Clinical Discretion: Our clinician's professional judgment regarding a child's well-being and safety is always final. We will never force a procedure on a distressed child.

5. What Happens If We Pause?

If we need to stop a procedure based on a child's distress or movement, please don't worry—it is a completely normal part of paediatric care.

When a pause happens, our priority is to reset and reassess the situation safely. We will take a step back, give your child a moment to catch their breath, and talk through options with you. Because our clinician's decision to stop based on well-being is final, we will work together at your child's pace to determine if we can adjust our approach creatively, or if it is in their best interest to reschedule for another day.

6. Your Private Data & Health Records

We handle your personal and clinical data with the highest level of security and confidentiality.

  • Accuracy: We request that the medical history provided (including history of surgeries, blood-thinning medication, or perforated eardrums) is fully accurate and complete to aid in proper care.

  • Secure Retention: In strict accordance with Scottish Health Record policies, your clinical notes and data are stored securely for a minimum of 11 years.

  • Sharing with Care: We only share your records with other medical professionals—such as your GP or an ENT specialist—when it is directly in the interest of your direct care.