Ear Pain and Fullness

Ear pain (otalgia) and ear fullness (aural fullness) can occur together or separate and are very common symptoms of several ear disorders. 

 

What are symptoms of ear pain or fullness?

Ear pain can occur as sharp or dull pain in one or both ears and is typically a symptom of an underlying ear disorder. While the most common cause of ear pain is an ear infection, other possible causes could be a ruptured eardrum, mastoiditis, or TMJ, among others. 

 

While fullness can be normal when experienced for only a few seconds at a time, it can become chronic and last for days, weeks, or even months.

 

What causes ear fullness?

Fullness is caused when the eustachian tube is not able to properly equalize the pressure in the middle ear system. Some of the potential causes could of that could be an ear infection, impacted ear wax, Meniere's disease, or cholesteatoma, among others.

 

When this happens it is typically caused by an underlying ear disorder and requires a medical appointment with Dr. Disher or Danielle.