Ear Foreign Bodies

How is the condition diagnosed?

A healthcare provider will look at the ear with an instrument called an otoscope. The provider will be able to see the foreign body, as well as any inflammation of the ear canal or eardrum.

Occasionally, foreign bodies are discovered by accident during a routine ear exam. If a person has no symptoms, the foreign body can usually be left to exit the ear canal on its own. The tubes placed inside of the eardrum to help prevent ear infections are often found in the ear canal during a routine ear exam. These tubes are usually harmless and usually fall out of the ear on their own.