The causes of ear pain tend to vary based on age. Children are far more likely than adults to acquire an ear infection whereas adults with ear pain tend to be dealing with conditions not directly related to the ear. Ear pain causes include an inner ear infection, swimmer’s ear, a ruptured eardrum, earwax blockage, or referred pain from an issue not directly affecting the ear like a tooth infection or sinusitis.
The most common cause of ear pain in children, an inner ear infection is most likely to form shortly after a cold, the flu, or other respiratory infection. According to the Mayo Clinic, children with ear infections may experience ear pain, difficulty sleeping, a reduced ability to hear things clearly, and a fever. Adults are less susceptible to ear infections, but when they are afflicted, ear pain may be accompanied by reduced hearing ability, a sore throat, and fluid draining from the ear. Treatments often center around reducing discomfort, though sometimes antibiotics are prescribed to clear up the infection. In the case of swimmer’s ear, or an outer ear infection, antibiotic ear drops are the most common treatment.
According to the National Health Service of the UK, a ruptured eardrum can also cause ear pain and temporary hearing difficulties. An eardrum perforation is a possible complication from an ear infection, but it can also be brought on by a change in air pressure, shock from a loud noise, or a physical injury. Ruptured eardrums usually heal on their own, though severe cases sometimes require surgery to repair the rupture.
A blockage of earwax can also cause ear pain. An ear wax blockage can occur when the ears produce a lot of wax or when it isn’t properly cleaned. Use of cotton swabs can be counterproductive in cleaning the ears as it can often just push wax deeper into the ear rather than removing it. Signs of an earwax blockage include pain, tinnitus or a persistent ringing sound, and an impaired sense of hearing.
Other causes of ear pain may be unrelated to the ear itself. According to the National Institutes of Health, arthritis of the jaw, an infected tooth, or sinusitis can cause referred ear pain. Even sleeping with an ear pressed into a pillow can be a temporary cause of a sore ear. According to the National Cancer Institute, in the worst cases, some forms of head and neck cancers are causes of ear pain.
The most common causes of ear pain include ear infections, a blockage of ear wax, and referred pain from a tooth or jaw issue. Most instances of ear pain can clear up over time without medical treatment, but antibiotics or ear drops are often required. Talk to your doctor about the causes of ear pain if it persists for more than a few days and be observant of any other symptoms that may develop alongside ear pain.
References:
Earache. National Institutes of Health.
Ear infection (middle ear). Mayo Clinic.
Earwax blockage. Mayo Clinic.
Head and Neck Cancer: Questions and Answers. National Cancer Institute.
Perforated eardrum. National Health Service.
