Each ear gives a different temperature reading

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I’ve tested this on 3 thermometers. They’re all decent brands; batteries fine and changed the ear probe. It’s fine on other people too.

I have a cold and felt grim, so checked my temp. My right says I have a fever, my left ear does not. It’s about 0.5 C difference. Which ear do I go with?

Seriously though, is this normal? And do you go with the higher or lower?

What temperature is each ear giving?

Do you feel hot? Current Covid guidance says you need to test if you feel you’ve got a temperature (no need to check actual value).

I wonder if you have earwax in one ear that insulated it a bit or something?
Alternatively you have a hot ear caused by an ear infection. Maybe. I’m not a medic.

I get the same with DS. It's weird!

Do you have a headache? I get migraines on one side & there's a definite temperature difference - we've tested it. Presumably it's to do with the blood flow. Have you been laying on one side?

Ear infection on one side?

One of my boys always has this. Sick or not sick his ears are often minimum of 0.5 degrees out. Usually more!

I don’t have a headache or ear ache.
I’m trying to get a covid swab booked anyway (stupid website!) but I was just curious.

One ear is 37.9 and the other is 37.4

Are you maybe accidentally touching the ear drum on one side due to different angle of approach using dominant or non dominant hand?

My youngest dd is 12, and every single time I have taken her temp, there is a different reading in each ear.
I have been told by mutiple medical professionals that that is impossible, and then they do it and see it and go away confused.

They say take the higher one, so that is what I do.

My conclusion is that there must be something in one ear that insulates (and no, she doesn't have waxy ears) and lowers the reading on that side.

lowers the reading on that side.

on the basis that you could lower it, but could only articficially raise it if there was something hot in the body.

My ears never measure the same temperature as each other- they're always out. I thought this was normal...

@BertieBotts

Are you maybe accidentally touching the ear drum on one side due to different angle of approach using dominant or non dominant hand?

Ooh interesting point. Didn’t think of that.

Tried taking my temp at a slightly different position this evening and one ear is 38 and the other is 37.6 - so still a difference.
(Home covid swab on it’s way)