HealthInfo Canterbury
Foreign object in the ear
Mea tauiwi ki te taringa
People, especially children, often put things in their ears. Objects can include buttons, beads, seeds and toy parts. Other objects that can get into ears include mud and insects such as a fly or ant entering the ear canal.
Often the object can be seen clearly. But sometimes they aren't visible, which can make them difficult to remove.
It's very important not to do anything that could push the object further into the ear.
How to tell if someone has an object in their ear
If someone has an object or insect in their ear, you may be able to see something when you look. As well, they may:
- feel pain
- not be able to hear properly
- feel something in their ear
- feel dizzy
- hear noises.
Important
If blood or a clear or yellow fluid is coming from the ear, see Head injury first aid.
Don't put anything like a cotton bud or matchstick into the ear. This runs the risk of damaging the ear or pushing the object further into the ear.
Don't reach inside the ear with tweezers unless the object is sticking out and can easily be grasped.
Helping someone who has an object in their ear
If they have an object in their ear:
- calm and reassure the person
- tilt their head towards the affected side – the object might fall out
- with their head tilted to the side and the affected ear facing downwards, ask the person to gently shake their head in the direction of the ground to see if it dislodges the object. Don't strike their head
- if the object is sticking out and you can easily grasp it, gently remove it with your hand or tweezers
- if the object isn't sticking out or you can’t see it don't put anything into the ear
- if it doesn't come out or you can't see the object, seek medical help.
If they have an insect in their ear:
- don't let the person put their finger in their ear as the insect may sting
- turn the person's head so their affected ear is facing upwards, then wait to see if the insect flies or crawls out
- if the insect doesn't come out by itself, put baby oil or olive oil into their ear. The oil should be warm, not hot. Turn the person's head so their affected ear is facing upwards. For adults, gently pull their earlobe backwards and upwards. For children, gently pull their earlobe backwards and downwards as you pour in the oil. This should suffocate the insect which may float out with the oil
- don't use oil if there's any pain or discharge including bleeding from the ear.
Getting medical help
See a doctor if none of the steps mentioned above are successful and the object or insect remains in the ear. You should also see a doctor if:
- there's clear fluid or blood draining from the ear
- the pain, hearing loss or a feeling that there's something in the ear continues once the object has been removed.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed December 2022.
SourcesReview key: HIFAD-141030
