19-07-2025
There's a painful echo in my left ear which affects my hearing – what can I do?
OUR resident specialist and NHS GP, Dr Zoe Williams, shares her expert advice.
Today, Dr Zoe helps a reader who is worried as their hearing is being affected by a painful echo.
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I HAVE got a problem with my left ear. Most days, it's like an echo and it's a little bit painful.
I have to keep rubbing it throughout the day. My hearing is affected by this. Is there anything I can buy for it?
A sensation of echo, pain and hearing reduction in one ear could have a number of causes.
The first thing that springs to mind is earwax build-up.
Excessive or impacted wax can create a physical barrier within the ear canal, blocking sound waves from reaching the eardrum.
This blockage can cause an echoing, pain and hearing loss.
Earwax softening drops, such as olive oil drops, gently lubricate and break down the wax, helping the body to push it out easier.
Never use cotton buds inside your ear because they push the earwax further in.
Eustachian tube dysfunction – which is when the tube connecting the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat becomes blocked or inflamed – can be triggered by a cold or allergies.
If you suspect allergies, you could try a steroid nasal spray.
From 'sagging' lobes to 'hearing food' and different shades of earwax - 12 eerie facts about your ears - Dr Philippa Kaye, GP and author
More severe pain, discharge or fever could be an infection.
And we always have to consider rare but more serious causes if symptoms persist.
See a nurse or doctor if symptoms have lasted more than a week despite over-the-counter treatment, your hearing loss is significant or getting worse, or if you experience ear discharge, fever or severe pain.
