Buzz
Having a foreign object stuck in your ear can be uncomfortable and, at times, even alarming. Children, in particular, are often prone to inserting objects into their ears, which can sometimes get lodged inside. Thankfully, in most cases, there is no need for an emergency visit. Foreign objects in the ear can usually be removed at home or by a doctor in a clinic and typically don't lead to long-term health or hearing issues. However, if you cannot see anything inside the ear, it's advisable to consult a doctor to remove the object.
Steps to Follow
Initial Action
Identify what is stuck in the ear. Sometimes, it's unclear how or why something gets stuck in the ear, but the method of removal will vary depending on the object. If possible, try to identify the object before deciding on the best course of action.
- Most objects lodged in the ear are deliberately placed, particularly by young children or toddlers. These items may include food, hairpins, jewelry beads, small toys, pencils, or cotton swabs. If you know what the child was doing prior to the symptoms appearing, you may be able to identify what is stuck in their ear.
- Earwax can accumulate in the ear canal and harden. This buildup may result from improper use or overuse of cotton swabs. Symptoms of earwax buildup include a feeling of fullness or pressure in one ear, and sometimes dizziness or hearing loss.
- Insects can be a frightening and uncomfortable foreign object to have in the ear, but they are the easiest to identify. The buzzing sound and movement of the insect can often be heard and felt in the ear.
Determine whether immediate medical attention is necessary. While it can be quite bothersome, most cases of foreign objects in the ear are not emergencies. If you are unable to remove the object, you can typically visit a doctor the next day. However, in certain situations, it's important to go to the emergency room to prevent further damage.
- If the object in the ear is sharp, seek medical attention immediately, as complications can arise rapidly.
- Young children often place button batteries in their ears. These small, round batteries, commonly used in watches or small household devices, can cause significant harm if left inside. If a button battery is stuck in the ear, seek immediate medical attention, as the chemicals in the battery can leak and damage the ear canal.
- Seek emergency care if the object in the ear is food or plant matter. These items can expand when exposed to moisture, potentially causing damage to the ear.
- If you experience symptoms such as swelling, fever, discharge, bleeding, hearing loss, dizziness, or increasing pain, visit a doctor immediately.
Know what not to do. A foreign object in the ear often causes so much discomfort that we rush to act without considering the consequences. Many over-the-counter remedies can do more harm than good when dealing with an object stuck in the ear.
- Do not use cotton swabs to remove the foreign object. While we often use cotton swabs for ear issues, they are ineffective in removing objects. In fact, cotton swabs can push the object further into the ear canal.
- Do not attempt to rinse the ear on your own. Many pharmacies sell ear irrigation kits with suction cups or syringes. While these tools are useful for routine ear care, they should not be used to flush the ear in the case of a foreign object without a doctor’s assistance.
- Do not use ear drops until you know what is causing the discomfort. The presence of a foreign object can mimic symptoms of other ear conditions. Ear drops could worsen the problem, especially if the object could rupture the eardrum.
Try Home Remedies
Shake your ear to let the object fall out. The first method to try is tilting your head downward and using gravity to help remove the object. Tilt your head to one side so the blocked ear is facing the ground. Sometimes, this alone will allow the object to fall out.
- To change the shape of the ear canal, grasp the outer ear (the part of the ear above the lobe and around to the top) and gently shake it. This motion may loosen the object, and gravity will take care of the rest.
- Do not hit or strike the head. You can gently shake your head, but striking the head could cause further injury.
Use tweezers to remove the object. You should only use this method if part of the object is protruding from the ear and you can easily grasp it with tweezers. Do not insert the tweezers into the ear canal. Trying to remove anything from a child’s ear with tweezers is not advisable. Instead, take the child to a pediatrician.
- Wash the tweezers with warm water and antibacterial soap before using them. Foreign objects may puncture the eardrum, causing bleeding or internal tearing of the ear canal, which can lead to infection.
- Use the tweezers to gently grip the object and pull it out. Move slowly and carefully to avoid breaking the object before it is fully removed.
- Do not attempt this method if the object is too deep, and you cannot see the tips of the tweezers when trying to remove it. Also, do not attempt this method if the person cannot remain still. In these cases, it's best to visit a doctor.
Use oil to remove insects. Having an insect trapped in your ear can be extremely uncomfortable as it flutters about and buzzes. There's also the risk of being bitten. Using oil to kill the insect can help remove it more easily.
- Never attempt to remove the insect with your fingers as it could bite.
- Lean your head sideways so the affected ear faces the ceiling or sky. For adults, gently pull the earlobe back and upwards. For children, pull it back and downwards.
- Mineral oil, olive oil, or baby oil are most effective. If possible, use mineral oil. Ensure the oil is warm, but not boiling or microwaved to avoid burns. Just a drop, equivalent to one dose for ear drops, is sufficient.
- The ideal scenario is for the insect to drown or suffocate in the oil, eventually floating to the surface.
- Oil should only be used if you're trying to remove an insect from the ear. If you experience pain, bleeding, or discharge from the ear, it may indicate a perforated eardrum. In such cases, oil may cause harm; avoid using it if you have any of these symptoms.
- Visit a doctor after using this method to ensure the insect has been completely removed.
Prevent future incidents. Advise children not to insert small objects into their ears, mouth, or other body openings. Always supervise children under five when they are near small items. Be especially cautious with button batteries; store them safely out of the reach of children.
Seek medical attention
Prepare for a doctor's visit. If no home remedies have been effective, it is important to see a doctor and seek professional help. Before your visit, gather some key information. When the patient is a child, make sure to ask them for details about the incident before heading to the doctor, as they may feel more comfortable telling you than the doctor.
- Most importantly, inform the doctor of what object is lodged in the ear and how long it has been there. This can help the doctor assess the severity of the situation.
- You should also tell the doctor what happened after the incident. Were there any side effects? Did you attempt to remove the foreign object? If so, how did you do it and what was the outcome?
Check if ear flushing is necessary. The doctor may suggest flushing the ear canal with water or a saline solution to remove the foreign object. This procedure is typically quick and straightforward.
- Usually, the doctor will use a syringe to pump warm, clean water into the ear canal.
- If successful, the foreign object will be washed out during the flushing process.
- Never attempt to flush the ear at home. This procedure should only be performed by a healthcare professional.
Allow the doctor to use medical tweezers to remove the foreign object. While tweezers may not be effective for home use, doctors have specialized instruments that are more precise for removing foreign objects from the ear.
- A medical tool called an otoscope, which provides light and magnification for inspecting the ear canal, will be used along with medical tweezers. This allows the doctor to monitor the tweezers inside the ear and avoid damaging any sensitive structures.
- The doctor will use a special pair of tweezers known as forceps to gently remove the foreign object from the ear.
- If the object is metallic, the doctor may use a long, magnetic tool to make the extraction process easier.
The doctor may need to use suction to remove the foreign object. A small tube is inserted near the object, and suction is applied to gently pull the object out.
- This method is typically used for removing hard objects like button batteries or jewelry pieces, rather than organic materials like food or insects.
Prepare for possible sedation. This is especially common for young children and toddlers. Children often struggle to remain still during these procedures. In such cases, the doctor may recommend sedation to prevent involuntary movements that could cause harm to the delicate structures in the ear.
- Do not eat or drink for at least 8 hours before the appointment if the doctor mentions sedation as an option.
- Follow all instructions given by the doctor after the visit. They may want you to monitor your child's condition to watch for any complications. Be sure to listen carefully and ask the doctor if you have any questions.
Follow all instructions if you have a perforated eardrum. Occasionally, a foreign object can puncture the eardrum. If this happens, the doctor will provide treatment instructions.
- Symptoms of a perforated eardrum include pain, discomfort, a feeling of fullness in the ear, dizziness, and fluid or blood leaking from the ear.
- Typically, a perforated eardrum will heal on its own within two months. However, the doctor may recommend a course of antibiotics to prevent infection. It is also advised to keep the ear clean and dry during the healing process.
Discuss ear healing with your doctor. After the examination, the doctor may advise you to avoid swimming or submerging your ear in water for 7-10 days. This will help reduce the risk of infection. You should protect your ear with mineral oil and cotton when showering or taking a bath.
- The doctor will usually schedule a follow-up appointment within a week to ensure your ear is fully healed, with no discharge, blood, or pain.
Warning
- Avoid using your fingers to remove foreign objects, as this often pushes them further into the ear.
- Since young children often cannot express their discomfort, you should be aware of signs if something is stuck in their ear. Unexplained crying, redness, swelling around the ear, and pulling at the ear are key symptoms to watch for.
- Seek immediate medical help if flu-like symptoms occur along with a foreign object lodged in the ear.
