Ear irrigation is used to clean out wax, a foreign body, or discharge.

• Use proper irrigation solution as prescribed by physician.
• Warm solution if required.
• Obtain all supplies needed:
• Gloves
• Basin
• Towel
• Syringe or bulb
• Normal saline or other prescribed irrigation solution
• Put patient into the sitting position and place towel on patient’s shoulder.
• Have patient hold basin to catch draining fluid.
• Have patient tilt head toward the affected ear.
• Fill syringe with required amount of solution.
• Gently pull ear upward and backward for an adult and down and backward for a child.
• Insert the syringe into the ear and position the flow of the solution toward the roof of the ear canal, never directly irrigating the tympanic membrane.
• Refill syringe and repeat irrigation as needed.