It would be difficult to provide a thorough hearing exam without an otoscope. Since an otoscope allows your first look into a patient’s hearing health, it’s important you have one that best suits you.

Having an otoscope with the proper magnification and lighting is important. But so is something as simple as how it feels in your hand. There are many types of otoscopes, from digital and video otoscope, to those that are compact and more reasonably priced.

The last thing you want is to endanger staff or patients with an unsanitary office. Keeping your clinic stocked with something as simple as audio wipes can help. They’re made with hospital-grade disinfectant, and are alcohol-free, meaning they won’t harm any hearing instruments or ear molds that are made of rubber, silicone, or acrylic materials.

To clean all non-disposable instruments, and for serious infection control, you’ll also need an ultrasonic cleaner and solution, preferably professional grade.

When patients begin to notice that they’re having trouble hearing, most will overlook the role ear wax buildup can play. While removing it may be a hassle, it’s also a quick fix that can instantly improve hearing.

Wax-softening drops and a bulb syringe are often sufficient for removing ear wax buildup. If the patient’s ear wax isn’t too hard and dry, it may even be something you can do in the office. Otherwise, you’ll have to send the patient home to continue trying, or use a curette to remove the unwanted wax.

For any health professional, earning the trust of your patients is critical for the success of your clinic. Imagine the different impressions each of these might make: You send the patient home with an ear wax removal kit because it couldn’t be done in the office. Or you grab a curette and help that patient hear better immediately. Doing so will allow you to add another service to your practice, thus increasing its value.

Extended-wear hearing devices are becoming more common, so having a pair of cerumen forceps in your clinic is a must. Whether you’re fitting a patient with an extended-wear device, or you are removing one, forceps are an essential tool in your kit.

Sometimes ear wax buildup cannot be removed with either a removal kit or a curette. In these stubborn cases, you can always reach for your cerumen forceps. Training is key here, as you don’t want to make contact with the canal wall while removing the wax.

A busy audiology clinic will do a few ear impressions each week. For the sake of ease and speed, consider using an impression gun with disposable cartridges.

If your patient has a small ear canal, or if you’re doing a particularly deep impression, having a slim cartridge will help. In these cases, it also helps to use a lubricant, as it will increase patient comfort and make your job easier.

Being able to quickly and easily fix a patient’s hearing aid will likely make that patient happy, as opposed to ordering the parts and making them wait a week.

Having a good variety of replacement and repair parts will ensure that you’re in position to handle the most common repairs on the spot: microphone covers, earhooks, battery doors, receivers, receiver wires, etc. These parts are usually not interchangeable between different manufacturers, so keeping them labeled and organized will be key to keeping them sufficiently stocked.

It’s important to keep a health stock of hearing aid batteries. You’ll also want to have a battery tester – an indispensable tool to make certain your patients are getting the most out of their hearing aid batteries. A magnetic battery insertion and removal tool is also a must-have, as are cleaning brushes, wax picks, and a tube and vent cleaner.

Moisture-related problems will always be a concern for those working with hearing aids, whether in the clinic or when providing take-home products.

A dehumidifier and vacuum system are great ideas for the clinic, while a dry hearing aid kit will help your patients store their instruments between visits. Depending on your climate, your clinic may require a professional-grade system to keep moisture under control.