This article was co-authored by Monica Kieu, DO, FACS and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Dr. Monica Kieu is a board certified Otolaryngologist and Specialist in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Kieu received a BS in Anthropology from the University of California, Riverside and earned her medical degree (DO), with honors, from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona. She then completed her residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Michigan State University/Detroit Medical Center, where she served as chief resident. Dr. Kieu also completed a prestigious fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Toronto. She is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Osteopathic Colleges of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the American Rhinologic Society. Dr. Kieu was recently named one of LA’s Top Docs by Los Angeles Magazine.
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Have something stuck in your ear? While this is a common problem for toddlers and children, it can happen at any age. Having a foreign object stuck in your ear can lead to discomfort, pain, and even mild hearing loss, so it’s important to take care of the issue right away. Luckily, in most cases, this isn’t a medical emergency. Check out our at-home methods to get something out of your ear using items you probably already have on-hand. However, if you can’t see what’s inside the ear or you can’t get it out on your own, it’s time to go to a doctor.[1]
Things You Should Know
- Tilt your head to the side and gently try to shake the object out.
- If you can see it, remove the object with tweezers. Otherwise, don’t try this method.
- Flush the object out with water, or use oil to kill bugs and flush them out.
- If you cannot get the object out on your own or you’re experiencing pain, seek medical attention.
Steps
At-Home Methods
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1Tilt your head to the side. Sometimes, an object is small enough or loose enough to simply come out on its own. When you notice something stuck in your ear, tilt your head to the side and use gravity to help you get it out. Shake your head gently to increase the chances of the object falling out on its own.[2]
- As you tilt your head, pull on the pinna, the outermost part of the ear (not the lobe, but the circle that begins at the top of the ear and stretches down to the lobe). Wiggling this can dislodge the object, after which gravity will do the rest.
- This method works well for objects like earbuds and cotton. It can also help dislodge live bugs.
- You can tell something is stuck in your ear if it’s swollen or red. You might also have difficulty hearing or hear something deep inside of your ear (like a bug).
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2Remove the object with tweezers. Only use this method if part of the object is sticking out and you can easily remove it with a pair of tweezers. Clean a pair of tweezers with soap, then gently grasp the object in the ear. Go slowly and gently to prevent the object from breaking before it’s fully out of the ear.[3]
- If the object is far enough inside of the ear that you can’t see it, do not use this method. Tweezers have the potential to push the object deeper inside of your ear canal, which can lead to injury.
- If you’re trying to remove something from a child’s ear and they won’t hold still, take them to a doctor instead. Moving around with tweezers inside of your ear is dangerous, and it could lead to a perforated eardrum.
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3Flush your ear out with water. Water can help flush out foreign objects, especially if they’re small. Wash your hands and fill up a bulb syringe with warm (not hot) water. Pull your ear up and back, then insert the syringe and gently squeeze water into your ear. Let the water run out of your ear onto a towel to flush out the foreign object.[4]
- If you have an ear infection or believe you may have perforated your ear drum, do not use water to flush your ear. Instead, head to the doctor.
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4Apply baby oil or vegetable oil to kill insects. You can usually tell there’s a bug in your ear if you hear it buzzing or walking around. In that case, fill your ear canal with oil, and keep your head tilted so the oil doesn’t run out. Wait a couple of minutes until you can’t hear the insect move anymore, then tilt your head again to flush the insect out.[5]
- If you’re struggling to get a bug out of your ear, warm the oil up in the microwave so it’s warm, but not hot. The heat from the oil will help kill the bug faster.
- Only use oil if you are attempting to remove an insect. If there has been pain, bleeding, or any discharges from the ear, it is possible that you have a perforated eardrum, and you should not use oils.
- See a doctor after using this method to make sure that all insect parts have been removed from the ear.
Seeking Medical Care
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1Get medical care if you can’t remove the object at home.[6] You can make an appointment with your doctor, or you can head to the emergency room or urgent care. Let your medical professional know what the object is, what you’ve tried so far to remove it, and how long it’s been inside of your ear.
- Your doctor will likely use an otoscope tool to take a closer look inside your ear.[7]
- If your ear is bleeding or extremely painful, don’t try to remove the object at home, and instead get medical attention right away.
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2Let your doctor irrigate, use tweezers, or use a suction to remove the object. For most foreign objects in ears, your doctor will use water to flush it out. If that doesn’t work, they may use medical tweezers or a suction tool to pull the object out manually. These procedures typically don’t hurt, and they’re relatively quick.[8]
- If the object is metal, your doctor can also use a long instrument that has been magnetized. This will make extraction much easier.
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3Follow your doctor’s instructions if you have a perforated eardrum. Occasionally, the eardrum might be punctured by a foreign object. If that’s the case, your eardrum will typically heal on its own within 2 months. However, your doctor might prescribe you antibiotics for infection, as well as give you instructions on how to clean the ear as it heals.[9]
- Symptoms of a perforated eardrum include pain, discomfort, a feeling of fullness in the ear, dizziness, and fluid or blood draining from the ear.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionIs it okay to use Q-tips in your ears?
Monica Kieu, DO, FACSDr. Monica Kieu is a board certified Otolaryngologist and Specialist in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Kieu received a BS in Anthropology from the University of California, Riverside and earned her medical degree (DO), with honors, from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona. She then completed her residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Michigan State University/Detroit Medical Center, where she served as chief resident. Dr. Kieu also completed a prestigious fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Toronto. She is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Osteopathic Colleges of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the American Rhinologic Society. Dr. Kieu was recently named one of LA’s Top Docs by Los Angeles Magazine.
Board Certified OtolaryngologistI don't recommend Q-tips, as they can cause damage and even get stuck in your ear. If you're experiencing symptoms or have something lodged in your ear, I suggest you see your doctor for treatment.
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QuestionI have cotton stuck in my ear, inside the canal. I'm scared to go to the doctor! How do I remove? Can I just leave it there?
Chris M. Matsko, MDDr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.
Family Medicine PhysicianNo. If you have cotton suck in your ear, go to the doctor and have him remove it with surgical tweezers.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
wikiHow Video: How to Get Something out of Your Ear
Warnings
- Don't try to remove foreign objects with your fingers. This often results in pushing an object further in your ear.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Do not use Q-tips to remove a foreign object from the ear.[10] Q-tips are often our go-to when coping with ear problems, but they do not work when attempting to remove a foreign object.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- If your child is too young to talk, they may not be able to tell you that something is stuck in their ear. Uncontrolled crying, redness and swelling around the ear, and pulling at the earlobe are symptoms to watch for.⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
- ↑ Monica Kieu, DO, FACS. Board Certified Otolaryngologist. Expert Interview. 20 October 2020.
- ↑ https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=insects-in-the-ear-90-P02828
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000052.htm
- ↑ https://hearingassociatesofnova.com/2019/11/07/time-to-clean-your-ears-here-is-how-to-irrigate-your-ears-safely/
- ↑ https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=insects-in-the-ear-90-P02828
- ↑ Monica Kieu, DO, FACS. Board Certified Otolaryngologist. Expert Interview. 20 October 2020.
- ↑ Monica Kieu, DO, FACS. Board Certified Otolaryngologist. Expert Interview. 20 October 2020.
- ↑ http://www.medicinenet.com/objects_or_insects_in_ear/page3.htm#how_is_an_object_in_the_ear_treated
- ↑ http://www.emedicinehealth.com/perforated_eardrum/page5_em.htm#perforated_eardrum_treatment
- ↑ Monica Kieu, DO, FACS. Board Certified Otolaryngologist. Expert Interview. 20 October 2020.
About This Article
If something gets stuck in your ear, don’t panic—in most cases, you or a doctor can get the object out without any lasting harm. Before taking action, have someone take a look in your ear to try and identify the object. If something hazardous is in your ear, such as a sharp object or a button battery, get medical attention immediately. You should also see a doctor right away for symptoms like swelling, bleeding, fever, or hearing loss. Otherwise, you can try shaking the object out or having someone gently remove it with a pair of tweezers. Scroll down for more advice from our Medical co-author, including how to get medical attention for an object stuck in your ear.
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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