We cannot always know how or why something ended up stuck in our ear, but treatment varies depending on what the foreign object is. If possible, identify the object before making any decisions regarding care.  The majority of foreign objects lodged in ears are placed there intentionally, usually by young children and toddlers. These include food material, hair clips, beads, small toys, pencils, and q-tips. If you know what your child was doing before symptoms appeared, you may be able to determine what's stuck in his ear.  Earwax can accumulate in the ear canal and harden. The buildup of earwax can also develop due to overuse or misuse of q-tips. Symptoms of an earwax buildup include a sense of fullness or pressure in one ear. Sometimes, this the buildup of earwax can cause dizziness and decreased hearing.  An insect can be a particularly alarming and annoying foreign object to have in the ear, but also the easiest to detect. The insect's buzzing and movement can be heard and felt in the ear. While annoying, the majority of the time a foreign object in the ear is not a medical emergency. If you cannot remove it yourself, it is typically all right to visit the doctor on the following day. However, in some cases you will need to visit the ER immediately to prevent greater physical harm.  If the object in the ear is something sharp, seek medical care immediately as complications can arise quickly.  Young children often place button-type batteries in the ear. These are the kind of small, circular batteries that often go in watches or small household gadgets. If a button battery is in the ear, seek immediate medical attention. The chemicals inside can leak and can cause severe damage to the ear canal.  Seek urgent medical assistance if food or plant material is lodged in the ear. These swell when exposed to moisture, creating the possibility of damage to the ear. If you experience symptoms like swelling, fever, discharge, bleeding, hearing loss, dizziness, or rapidly increasing pain see a doctor right away. Oftentimes, the irritation of a foreign body in the ear is so great we leap into action without considering the consequences. Many do-it-yourself treatment options available at pharmacies do more harm than good when a foreign object is lodged in your ear.  Do not use Q-tips to remove a foreign object from the ear. Q-tips are often our go-to when coping with ear problems, but they do not work when attempting to remove a foreign object. In fact, they may actually push an object deeper into the ear canal.  Do not attempt to irrigate the ear yourself. Many drug stores and pharmacies sell ear irrigation kits in the form of suction cups or syringes. While these DIY kits are helpful for day-to-day ear care, you should not attempt ear irrigation without a doctor's assistance if something is stuck in your ear. Do not use ear drops until you know what is causing your ear discomfort. Foreign objects in the ear can mimic symptoms of other ear conditions. Ear drops can make the problem worse, especially if the foreign object has caused a perforated eardrum.
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