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Where can you get ear pain treatment in Dubai, and when is ear pain urgent?
Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is a Consultant ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist who treats ear pain in adults. He sees patients at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, Dubai. He checks the ear, throat and jaw together, because ear pain does not always start in the ear. See him if pain lasts more than a few days or keeps returning. Get help the same day if it comes with sudden hearing loss in one ear, severe dizziness or a drooping face.
Ear pain is hard to ignore. It may be a sharp stab when you chew, a dull ache after a flight, or a throb that keeps you awake at night. Before you book an ear pain doctor in Dubai, it helps to know one surprising fact: in adults, ear pain does not always start in the ear.
Many adults with a sore ear have a normal-looking ear. The pain is "referred" from the jaw joint, the teeth or the throat, because these areas share nerves with the ear. This guide helps you work out where your pain may be coming from, what you can safely do at home, and which signs mean you should get help quickly.
Dr. Muhammad Jabbr, Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa, checks the ear, throat and jaw together, so the real cause is not missed.
Is the pain really coming from your ear?
Doctors split adult ear pain into two groups. Primary ear pain starts inside the ear, from an infection, a wax plug or pressure behind the eardrum. With referred ear pain, the ear is healthy, but a nearby area sends pain signals along a shared nerve.
The symptom checker below gives clues, but only an ear examination can confirm the cause.
Common ear causes of ear pain in adults
Ear infection
Infection of the ear canal or the space behind the eardrum is a common cause. Pain when you press or pull the outer ear suggests the canal. A deep ache with blocked hearing, often after a cold, suggests the middle ear. Have the ear examined rather than guessing.
Wax blockage
Wax is normal and protects your ear. But when it is pushed deep, often by cotton buds, it can form a hard plug. You may feel fullness, muffled hearing and a mild ache. Strong pain suggests something else is going on as well.
Pressure from flying or diving
When a plane comes down to land, the air pressure outside rises quickly. A small tube called the Eustachian tube must open to balance the pressure behind your eardrum. If you have a cold, allergies or a blocked nose, the tube may not open well. The result can be sharp pain, a popping feeling and dull hearing. Most cases settle within days. Pain with sudden hearing loss or dizziness needs prompt checking.
Ear pain from the jaw, teeth or throat
If your ear looks normal, the next step is to check the areas around it.
The jaw joint (TMJ)
Your jaw joint sits just in front of your ear canal. Grinding your teeth at night, clenching under stress, chewing gum a lot or an uneven bite can strain it. The pain is often worse in the morning or after meals. You may hear clicking. This is one of the most common causes of ear pain with a healthy-looking ear.
Teeth and gums
A decayed back tooth, an infected root or a wisdom tooth coming through can send pain to the ear. If your ear looks normal and your tooth is sensitive, a dental check is a sensible next step.
The throat
A sore throat, tonsillitis or a throat abscess can cause sharp ear pain on swallowing. In adults, ear pain that lasts for weeks with a normal ear also needs a careful look at the throat and voice box. This is especially true if you smoke, have a hoarse voice or find it hard to swallow. A throat and voice specialist may then use a small camera to see areas a mouth exam cannot reach. The cause is usually minor, but it should not be ignored.
Adult ear pain symptom checker
Treat this as a rough guide only.
- Ache after a flight, popping, blocked hearing: points to pressure behind the eardrum.
- Fullness and muffled hearing, little pain, regular cotton bud use: often wax.
- Pain when you touch or pull the outer ear, with itching: suggests the ear canal.
- Any fluid or pus leaking from the ear: needs an examination to see where it comes from.
- Pain when chewing, jaw clicking, worse in the morning: often the jaw joint.
- Throbbing pain with a sensitive tooth: may be dental.
- Pain on swallowing, sore throat on the same side: may come from the throat.
- One-sided ear pain for over three weeks with a normal ear: needs a full ENT check of the throat and neck.
Safe ways to ease ear pain at home
While you wait to be seen, these simple steps are safe for most adults:
- Take a regular painkiller such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, following the pack directions, if they suit you.
- Hold a warm (not hot) cloth against the ear or jaw.
- For flight pressure, swallow, yawn or chew gum as the plane comes down.
- For jaw pain, eat soft food for a few days, avoid gum and try to keep your teeth apart when resting.
Never put cotton buds, hair pins or keys in your ear. Do not use ear candles. Do not put oil or drops in your ear if there is discharge or you think your eardrum may be torn.
When is ear pain urgent?
Please get medical help the same day if you have ear pain with any of these:
- Sudden hearing loss in one ear. Treat this as an emergency, because early treatment matters.
- Severe dizziness, a spinning feeling or loss of balance.
- Your face feels weak or droops on one side.
- A tender, red bulge behind the ear, or one ear sticking out more than the other.
- High fever, confusion, a very bad headache or neck stiffness.
- A painful rash or blisters on or around the ear.
- Trouble swallowing or breathing, or a new lump in the neck.
Diabetes and lowered immunity raise the risk of a deep ear canal infection. If this applies to you, get severe or worsening ear pain with discharge seen without delay.
How an ear pain doctor in Dubai finds the cause
Dr. Jabbr starts by asking when the pain began, what makes it worse, and about hearing, jaw, tooth or throat symptoms.
Next comes the examination. He looks into the ear canal and at the eardrum with magnification. If needed, wax is gently removed so the eardrum can be seen clearly. He also checks the nose, throat, jaw joint and neck. If the ear itself looks normal, a small flexible camera (laryngoscopy) may be used to look at the back of the throat and voice box.
If you notice muffled hearing, a hearing test may be done to measure how well each ear works and how the eardrum moves. Once the cause is clear, he explains it in plain words and agrees a plan with you, which may include a dental referral. Scans are not needed for most people, but may be advised if the cause is still unclear.
Learn more about ear care on our ear specialist (otology) page.
Why many adults choose Dr. Muhammad Jabbr
Many patients see Dr. Muhammad Jabbr as one of the best ENT doctors in Dubai for ear pain, because he looks beyond the ear. His training as an ENT and head and neck surgeon covers the ear, throat and neck, where most referred ear pain begins.
- Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa, Dubai.
- Qualifications: MD, MS, DOHNS (England), European Board ORL-HNS and Arab Board ORL-HNS.
- More than 20 years of experience and more than 3,000 ENT procedures.
- A Google rating of 4.9 from 406 reviews.
Book an appointment
Ear pain that lasts more than a few days, keeps coming back or worries you deserves an ENT check. You can book online with Dr. Muhammad Jabbr or call +971 52 751 7811. The clinic is at Medcare Hospital, Hadiqa Street, Al Safa 1, Dubai. For other questions, visit our contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my ear hurt when my ear looks normal?
The pain may come from the jaw joint, a tooth or the throat, which share nerves with the ear. An ENT doctor checks each of them.
Can grinding my teeth cause ear pain?
Yes. Grinding or clenching strains the jaw joint, which sits right in front of the ear. The pain is often worse in the morning. A night guard from your dentist may help.
How long does ear pain after a flight last?
It often settles within a few hours to a few days. If the pain, blocked hearing or dizziness lasts longer than that, have your ear checked.
Should I worry about ear pain on one side that will not go away?
Most cases have a simple cause. But in adults, one-sided ear pain lasting over three weeks with a normal ear should be checked by an ENT doctor. This matters even more if you smoke, have a hoarse voice or have trouble swallowing.
Can a blocked nose or sinus problem make my ear hurt?
Yes, it can. A cold, allergy or sinus problem can stop the Eustachian tube from opening well. Pressure then builds behind the eardrum and causes an ache or a full feeling. Treating the nose often helps the ear settle.
Finding the real source of your ear pain
Wax, infection and flight pressure are common causes of adult ear pain, but the jaw, teeth and throat can also be to blame. Sudden hearing loss, dizziness, facial weakness or swelling behind the ear needs urgent care. If your pain does not settle, a careful ENT check with Dr. Muhammad Jabbr can help find the cause.
