How to diagnose ear pain? Sometimes, it’s not just the ear pain that troubles us — it’s these questions and the anxiety pain brings with it.
Why does my ear hurt?
Is it serious?
Should I see a doctor?
Will I be okay?
If you’ve asked yourself these questions, you’re not alone. Ear pain or earache (medically known as otalgia) is one of the most common reasons people walk into my ENT clinic. They are worried, confused, and often in discomfort.
Let’s walk through how we, as ENT doctors, gently uncover the cause of ear pain and diagnose it to help you find answers and relief or earache.
visiting an ENT specialist to know the cause of for ear pain can be intimidating to some, but it’s usually simple and painless.
Here’s what you can expect during your visit to an ENT doctor for ear pain:
Every cause of ear pain has a story to tell. We ask and we listen.
If you’re diabetic or prone to infections, that’s crucial too.
Using 23 years of experience and special tools like:
We ENT specialist check for:
– Pain on touching outer ear
– Redness or swelling
– Wax impaction
– Signs of infection or injury
– A bulging or perforated eardrum
Even subtle changes in color or position of the ear drum ( tympanic membrane) tell us where the problem lies.
Not all ear pain comes from the ear!
We check your nose, throat, and jaw joints too — because ear pain can come from nearby areas like sinuses or tonsils or TM joints.
Sometimes, the culprit is:
TM Joint (jaw) disorders
Tooth problems
Throat infections
Sinus issues
Herpes zoster
A normal-looking ear with pain? That’s our clue to look deeper.
In most cases, clinical evaluation is enough. But sometimes we may advise:
(Read my post – 5 common causes of ear pain)
Condition | What you might feel | What ENT doctor will usually find |
Otitis externa (outer ear infection) | Pain while touching the ear, discharge, boil in the ear | Swollen/red canal, discharge, normal eardrum, furuncles |
Otomycosis (fungal infection of ear canal) | Pain while touching the ear, itching, ear discharge | Swollen/red ear canal, fungal debris |
Otitis media (middle ear infection) | Ear pain, blocked ear, fever, hearing loss, associated cold or sore throat | Bulging/red eardrum, pus |
Wax impaction | Blocked ear, mild pain or echo | Dark wax seen clearly |
TM Joint pain | Pain near ear, worse when chewing | Ear looks normal, jaw tender |
Dental issue | Throbbing or referred pain | Ear appears fine, dental check needed |
Treatment depends on the cause, but may include:
Treatment for TM joint, muscle relaxants, hot fomentation, physiotherapy.
Some signs are red flags and need ear examination and evaluation by an ENT Specialist near you.
Answer YES or NO:
If you answered YES to any of these, it’s best to get a professional checkup.
If you’re in or around Vashi, Navi Mumbai, feel free to visit our ENT clinic for expert care.
Because behind every earache is a person. A child who couldn’t sleep all night because of ear pain. A mother who tried home remedies. A man afraid his ear pain is something serious.
And as ENT doctors, we hold space for all of it—science in our hands, empathy in our approach.
Ear pain may feel small, but it can point to many different causes — some simple, some needing careful attention. The key is not to ignore it. An ENT specialist helps not just by treating pain, but by understanding why it’s happening. (read my previous post about 5 common causes of ear pain)
So if your ears have been trying to tell you something lately, maybe it’s time to listen.
Coming Soon:
You can read my post about “How to care for Ear and hearing”?
Hi, I’m Dr. Archana Jhawar, an ENT specialist with over 24 years of experience. I specialize in tinnitus treatment, vertigo , ear care, and ear surgeries, practicing at Neoalta Clinic, Vashi, and Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Navi Mumbai. I’ve trained in vertigo management and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), combining science with compassion to offer holistic, evidence-based care. I’m passionate about writing, poetry, music, yoga, and photography.
