Ear Foreign Bodies

Foreign bodies in the ear can occur in children and even adults. Foreign bodies refer to any object that is either placed in the ear canal or is embedded in the earlobe, when it is not meant to be there. These could cause harm without medical attention.

Items commonly found in the ear canal can include:

• Food
• Insects
• Toys and beads
• Buttons
• Pieces of crayon
• Small batteries

Objects usually found in the earlobe are earrings, either stuck in the lobe from infection or placed too deeply during placement.

What are the symptoms of foreign bodies in the ear?

Sometimes ear foreign bodies are without symptoms, while other times, they cause ear pain, redness, hearing loss and/or drainage.

Treatment for foreign bodies in the ear

The best treatment for foreign bodies in the ear is prompt removal of the object by an otolaryngologist (ENT physician). An ENT specializes in care of the ears and is trained to address this problem, often at the time of your visit. Delicate instruments and/or suction may be inserted in the ear to gently pull out the object. These are the safest and most effective methods to address the problem and can prevent further damage or infection from more imprecise and inefficient methods.  After removal of the object, the ENT physician will then re-examine the ear to determine if there has been any injury to the ear canal.  Antibiotic drops for the ear may be prescribed to treat any infections.

Have additional questions? Call DeFatta ENT & Allergy at (715) 828-2368 for more information or to schedule an appointment.