Ear Pain Ear Pain
An earache is a sharp, dull or burning pain in one or both ears. The pain may last a short time or be ongoing.
The symptoms of an ear infection may include ear pain, fever, fussiness, increased crying or irritability. Many children will have minor hearing loss during or right after an ear infection.
Most of the time the problem goes away. Lasting hearing loss is rare, but the risk increases with the number of infections.
Causes of Pain
The eustachian tube runs from the middle part of each ear to the back of the throat. This tube drains fluid that is made in the middle ear. If the eustachian tube becomes blocked, fluid can build up. This may lead to pressure behind the eardrum or an ear infection.
Ear pain in adults is less likely to be from an ear infection. Pain that you feel in the ear may be coming from another place, such as your teeth, the joint in your jaw (temporomandibular joint), or your throat. This is called “referred” pain.
Causes of ear pain may include:
- Arthritis of the jaw
- Short-term ear infection
- Long-term ear infection
- Ear injury from pressure changes
- Object stuck in the ear or buildup of ear wax
- Hole in the eardrum
- Sinus infection
- Sore throat
- TMJ (temporomandibular joint syndrome)
- Tooth infection
- Ear canal irritation from cotton-tipped swabs or soap/shampoo staying in the ear. Learn More
Please contact one of our Ear, Nose & Throat providers if you have any concerns regarding ear pain.