A foreign object in the ear can cause pain, infection and hearing loss. Usually you know if an object is stuck in your ear, but small children may not be aware of it. If an object becomes lodged in the ear: Don't probe the ear with a tool such as a cotton swab or matchstick.
Foreign bodies stuck deep in the ear: If the item is deeper in the ear than can be seen with the naked eye, a qualified medical professional should remove it. Don't stick anything into the ear to remove an object yourself, as you may push it in further and cause damage or rupture of the eardrum or scratch the skin of the ear canal.
At the doctor's office or in the emergency room the foreign body can be removed using several techniques. (Don't try these at home.)
Modified tweezers or forceps can be used to reach in and grab the object with the help of an otoscope so important structures are not damaged.
Gentle suction can be used to suck out the object.
Irrigation of the canal with warm water and a small catheter can flush certain materials out of the canal and clean out debris.
Some doctors have devised ingenious and novel ways to remove objects from ear canals.
Small children: Small children don't tolerate painful or scary interventions, and may need to be sedated medically to have foreign bodies removed from their ears. Often with children, the first try is the most successful, as subsequent attempts to remove an object can be painful and frightening to the child.
Insects and bugs: Insects in the ear canal are often killed with either lidocaine (an anesthetic) or mineral oil. They are then flushed out with gentle warm water irrigation.
Antibiotics: After the foreign body is removed the doctor may put the patient on antibiotic drops for five days to a week to prevent infection from trauma to the ear canal
