The sensation of something in your ear can range from a minor annoyance to a more significant issue. This feeling, often described as fullness, blockage, or a tickle, can be unsettling. Understanding the various reasons behind this sensation is the first step toward finding relief and knowing when to seek professional medical advice.
Common Reasons for the Sensation
A frequent cause of this sensation is earwax buildup. Earwax, or cerumen, naturally protects the ear canal by trapping dirt and slowing bacterial growth. However, when it becomes impacted, it can cause blockage, pressure, or a tickling feeling, sometimes accompanied by reduced hearing or ringing (tinnitus).
Foreign objects in the ear canal are another common reason, particularly in children. Small items like beads, toys, or cotton swab tips can get lodged inside, causing discomfort, pain, or fullness. In adults, insects like cockroaches, moths, or flies are sometimes found in the ear canal, causing unsettling sensations.
Water trapped in the ear after swimming or bathing can also lead to a blocked or full feeling. While the ear’s structure usually helps water drain naturally, it can sometimes become lodged, creating a tickling or itching sensation that may extend to the jaw or throat. If this trapped water does not drain, it can create an environment for infections.
Ear infections, whether bacterial or fungal, can cause fullness or pressure in the ear. Otitis externa, known as swimmer’s ear, affects the outer ear canal, while otitis media affects the middle ear behind the eardrum. These infections can lead to swelling, fluid buildup, and pain.
Certain skin conditions affecting the ear canal, such as eczema or psoriasis, can also cause this feeling. Eczema can make the skin inside the ear dry, cracked, and itchy. Psoriasis can lead to a buildup of dead skin cells that may block the ear canal. This flaking and irritation can mimic the sensation of a foreign object or debris.
Recognizing When Professional Help is Needed
It is important to recognize when the sensation in your ear warrants professional medical attention. If the feeling persists, worsens, or does not resolve with simple measures, it is advisable to seek medical attention.
The presence of accompanying symptoms also indicates a need for professional evaluation. These include ear pain, fever, or any discharge like pus or blood from the ear. Dizziness, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), or a sudden change in hearing also require medical assessment.
If a foreign object has entered the ear, especially an insect, a sharp object, or if it causes significant discomfort, seek immediate medical attention. Button batteries, commonly found in small devices, require urgent removal as they can cause rapid chemical burns.
Seek professional help if the cause is unknown or if you experience significant anxiety. A healthcare provider can accurately diagnose the issue and provide appropriate guidance and treatment, preventing potential complications.
Safe Approaches to Relief
For common, non-serious causes, safe home-care techniques can offer relief. If water is trapped, tilt the head with the affected ear facing down to encourage drainage. Gently pulling on the earlobe can help straighten the ear canal, assisting water to flow out. A hairdryer on a low, cool setting, held at least a foot away, can help evaporate trapped moisture.
For earwax buildup, over-the-counter softening drops can be helpful. These solutions often contain mineral oil, hydrogen peroxide, or saline, which soften the wax, making it easier for the ear to naturally clear it. Olive oil or almond oil can also soften earwax; apply a few drops to the ear while lying on your side and allow it to soak for several minutes.
Do not insert anything into the ear canal. Cotton swabs, fingers, bobby pins, or any other objects should be avoided. Using these can push earwax or foreign bodies deeper, potentially causing impaction, damaging the ear canal’s delicate skin, or even perforating the eardrum. This can also introduce bacteria, increasing infection risk. Ear candling is another practice to avoid, as it lacks scientific evidence and can lead to burns, wax deposits, or eardrum damage.
Medical Interventions and Outlook
When professional medical help is sought, the process typically begins with a thorough examination. A healthcare provider often uses an otoscope, a lighted instrument, to visualize the ear canal and eardrum, assessing for blockages, inflammation, or injury.
If a foreign body is present, various methods may be used for its safe removal. Techniques include irrigation, where warm water is flushed into the ear canal to dislodge the object. Suction is another common method, using a small device to vacuum the foreign body out. Specialized instruments like forceps or a curette (a small scoop) may be used for manual extraction under direct visualization. For live insects, mineral oil or lidocaine may be instilled to immobilize and kill them before removal.
For ear infections, treatment depends on the type and cause. Bacterial infections often respond to prescription antibiotic ear drops or oral antibiotics. Fungal infections may require antifungal ear drops. For persistent fluid buildup after an infection, a myringotomy might be performed. This involves a tiny incision in the eardrum to drain fluid and sometimes insert a small ventilation tube to prevent recurrence.
Professional earwax removal techniques are available for significant impactions. These include ear irrigation, which flushes the wax out with water, and micro-suction, a gentle vacuum method. Manual removal using specialized tools like a Jobson Horne probe is also an option, particularly for hard or deep wax. For complex or recurrent situations, a referral to an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist may be made for further evaluation and management.