What to do - silicone ear plug stuck in ear.

[dinomirror]

Teen dd used a silicone ear plug but now its gone too far back for us to take out. I think its melted somewhat so its not just one solid piece. What should i do to take it out?

Would it help to put an ice pack near the ear (obvs take it off after a few mins then replace) to cool the wax down and solidify it. Then attend doctors surgery/a and e for them to pull it out

I would try tweezing it out

Exactly the same thing happened to me a few years ago with silicon ear plugs. Was properly lodged. Tried tweezers, tried sluicing it out with olive oil etc and didn't work. Ended up in A&E....

i would ring a local ear microsuction place the type that use a mini vacuum cleaner tool to suck out wax

So gone to A&E where they tried to take it out but couldn't so refered to ENT which they said could take weeks! However before and after shes been complaining ear ache, nausea and headache. They said no infection at the minute but shes is in discomfort albeit mild. Is it worth going again but this time to childrens?

Depends in my area ENT cover both kids and adults, but they will come and have a go getting it out in A&E for kids. Some hospitals do not have kids ENT cover. Staff won't be able to do much more than was already tried in A&E TBH as ENT have the more specialist kit. She will have ear ache, nausea and a headache if they have been poking around in her ear, poor thing.

In my area the ENT i think covers both but is right next to the childrens hospital and the childrens is very big (RMCH) which i would expect to have specialist equipment?

Did they say why they couldn't get it out?

Was there a concrete reason or just thhe skill of the people trying?

Can you go during "office hours" and see if ENT can come to A&E

Alternatively I had a private ENT consult and scope in sinuses and it was £250.

No correct equipment/lack of skill

The kids one is probably more likely to have staff who are practiced at getting things out of ears, I'd guess.

That's ridiculous, they can't leave your poor DD with an earplug stuck in her ear. I don't know what to suggest. Can't the audiology unit help? I'd try ringing them first thing in the morning, I mean she can't be left like that. Otherwise go to a private audiologist - there are many private hearing centres in the high street near me, they do microsuction and have tools for ear wax removal so surely they could remove an ear plug?

Do you have a pair of long tweezers that you could try and remove it with?

I echo what the above say, go to a&e, and even if you get it out I would go to GP to check there’s no damage. I’ve had terrible issues with my ears and would hate for someone to be in so much pain.

in future try the memory foam earbuds.

If the a and e tweezers didnt work my tweezers stand no chance! Its melted so it only comes out in bits. The pains increased now so ill be giving 111 a call

Childrens A&E or urgent care unit.

They can use suction . They will not be using tweezers

I’ve had the ear suction for an on going issue, they’ll get it out at a&e or the audiology dept, but you absolutely cannot do this yourself or you run the risk of damaging her hearing forever (personal experience)

My friend permanently damaged his ear drum trying to fish out an earplug that had gone in too far, he needed a hearing aid in his thirties and will for life. Take her for medical attention, a&e, minor injuries or even an audiologist if you have one open near by (there is a Specsavers audiology centre in a shopping centre near me open until 9)

Also my audiologist uses a kind of suction pick, so it’ll definitely come out, whole or in parts. Probably easier that it’s broken.

Audiologist was my first thought as well

Goodness no, don't keep trying to stick things in her ear. That's what I did and it didn't go well. Suggest you go back to children's a&e, make your dd sob in pain and go a bit ott. The thing needs to come out before it gets all infected.

She's too old for RMCH. If the pain is really bad you can always go back - or go to Wythenshawe - same trust so will be able to see your notes from the other A&E attendance

For audiologists, would it just be spec savers ear wax removal?

Please know that if you push things into her ear , you are risking perforating her ear drum which will cause a lot of pain and take best part of a year to heal .

She is at risk of infections too as well as permanent hearing loss .

If your A/E department hasn't got access to suction they can make an urgent referral to the ENT team who will review tonight and either action tonight or bring you back tomorrow into their Hot clinic for suction .

Failing that they can put her on the theatre list and retrieve it surgically ( no incisions necessary, just a clear out ) .

Side note- its so sad to see what the NHS has become! If they can potentially leave dd whos still a 16 year old in pain for weeks, who knows what they are doing to older patients?

I agree op. The NHS is appalling!