We have all heard of it but may be considered a folktale: cockroaches in our ears. So, does it happen? Why does it happen? What do I do if it does?
Recently, our facility had a patient visit the office stating that a bug had flown into his/her ears. Physical examination revealed that a roach had indeed flown into the patient’s ear. Although uncommon, bugs can become lodged into an ear canal. Why? Our ear canals are a warm, moist area that bugs (specifically roaches) may like to make their new home. However, our ears already have a protective mechanism in place to shield you from these creepy-crawlers – it’s ear wax. We often view wax as a nuisance, however one of its purposes is to prevent foreign bodies from going too far into your ear canal and causing damage to your ear drum. Want more information regarding the purpose of ear wax? See our “Cerumen: friend or foe?” blog post.
If a bug happens to become lodged into your ear canal please contact your nearest medical physician, as soon as possible. Although the bug will likely not survive long enough in your canal, damage to eardrum can occur which can have possible repercussions to your hearing. There is also the possibility the ear may become infected with the unwelcome guest in there. Therefore, it is essential that you contact your nearest medical physician and/or facility for removal.
Have more questions? At Gardner Audiology, we are here to answer your questions! Call us at 1-800-277-1182 or at gardneraudiology.com.
