Ear canal foreign bodies are very common in children from 2-6 years of age. These usually include food items, insects, toys, rocks, plastic parts or any small object that a child thinks might fit in their ear canal. Your child may not have any symptoms with the foreign body in their ear. It may be found on routine exam by your child’s primary care physician. Sometimes a foreign body in the ear canal may lead to pain or drainage.
A foreign body in the ear is usually not an emergency (the exception are small, watch batteries) and is best handled by an experienced pediatric ENT physician with the proper instruments and equipment for safe, painless removal of the object.
If your child’s primary care physician is unable to remove the foreign body they may refer your child to ENT for Children. In our clinic we can often remove the foreign body under a microscope using small metal instruments or suction (a small vacuum like device).
In cases where we feel it cannot be done safely in the office or becomes too painful to remove, it may require that your child undergo a general anesthetic to remove the foreign body.
Call ENT for Children for more information or to schedule an appointment.