What Are the Causes of Deep Ear Pain?

An airplane ride, a common childhood ailment or a cotton swab too enthusiastically used can all cause deep ear pain. They can all result in damage to inner parts of your ear.

Ear Pain

• Ear pain can feel like a sharp or burning sensation. It can occur in one or both ears, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Infection

• An acute ear infection in children causes earache and a sensation of fullness in the ear. Ear infections occur when the eustachian tube behind the middle ear fills with fluid, and bacteria grow within that fluid.

Damage

• Deep ear pain can occur if your middle ear is damaged. This damage can be caused by changes in air pressure or by an object being stuck into your ear. These can lead to the rupture of your middle ear.

Treatment

• An ear infection can be treated with antibiotics. Surgery can repair a pressure imbalance in your ear or remove a foreign object lodged in your ear.

Considerations

• If your middle ear is ruptured, you could experience hearing loss. While the middle ear usually heals within two months, in some cases, the hearing loss is permanent.