What's going on behind my ears? (Slightly disgusting) [more inside]
posted by MattMangels on Nov 2, 2009 - 20 answers

Almost ten years after I've worn earrings, my piercings continue to regularly swell and discharge pus. What's wrong with my ears, how can I fix it, and will I ever wear earrings again? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 30, 2009 - 45 answers

I’m considering getting my ears pierced. Just regular old lobe piercings. Help me decide if I should, then help answer all the probably simple questions about the process, because I seriously know nothing. Before you bring it up – I’m planning on going to a real piercing place, not Claire’s. [more inside]
posted by brainmouse on Aug 18, 2009 - 41 answers

Why shouldn't I use Q-tips? Or an ear pick? [more inside]
posted by musofire on Aug 12, 2009 - 26 answers

Wind proof headphones for running and biking? [more inside]
posted by zazerr on May 13, 2009 - 14 answers

How should I go about forming a group / coalition / movement for venues to lower the volume to levels that won't leave your ears ringing? More thoughts, ideas, and concepts inside. [more inside]
posted by filthy light thief on Apr 20, 2009 - 26 answers

Are headphones and earphones inherently worse for your ears? In other words, is there a difference between listening to something live or through speakers, and listening to something through headphones or earphones at the same volume, in terms of damage done to your ears? [more inside]
posted by dicetumbler on Apr 3, 2009 - 13 answers

About 4 years ago, I stumbled across a sound file which could be played from a web page which instantly opened ears/Eustachian tubes which had been blocked. The page was very simple ("I made this file which runs through sound frequencies, one for each ear, play"). I can't find this page or file today. Does anyone remember this or know of anything like this on the web? Thanks.
posted by Riverine on Jan 8, 2009 - 11 answers

I've suddenly begun to experience a rather disturbing auditory phenomenon. Sounds as heard by my right ear are pitched lower than the same sound as heard by my left ear. This gives people's voices and music (especially music) a very frightening and eerie chorus effect that's becoming more and more disconcerting. [more inside]
posted by tehloki on Nov 30, 2008 - 12 answers

When counting piercings, should a woman's pierced ears (one hole in each ear, pierced at the same time and always used as a pair) be counted as one or two piercings?
posted by thirteenkiller on Nov 10, 2008 - 31 answers

I'm recovering from a bout of pneumonia for which I was prescribed a 5-day course of Azithromycin. I'm feeling much better, but I'm bothered by tinnitus. Googling has revealed that my antibiotic may have cause this. If so, will it go away eventually and/or is there anything specific I can do to help it go away? I really don't want to - and can't afford to - pay for another doctor visit if this is something that will go away on its own. [more inside]
posted by amyms on Oct 2, 2008 - 10 answers

Why does my dog have a scar on each ear? [more inside]
posted by TochterAusElysium on Jul 3, 2008 - 8 answers

Would you go crazy if you were living in the boonies and every couple of minutes some dude comes careening around your corner on an ATV or motorcycle revving up slowly and maliciously? [more inside]
posted by watercarrier on Jul 1, 2008 - 29 answers

How can I clean the plastic of a cellphone that has become matte again without ruining it? [more inside]
posted by ooklala on Apr 28, 2008 - 4 answers

Whenever I yawn while listening to music, the music becomes not only distant, but out of tune. Why is that? My mother says it happens to her as well.
posted by Corduroy on Apr 12, 2008 - 11 answers

How do I best get my ears more normal(ish) after stretching to 00g? [more inside]
posted by aussicht on Apr 4, 2008 - 8 answers

Has anyone had experience with ear infections going away on their own or with home treatment? Or do they always require a trip to the doctor and some antibiotics? [more inside]
posted by tastybrains on Nov 9, 2007 - 13 answers

Sore throat/neck. Popped ears won't unpop. Not otherwise sick. What's wrong? [more inside]
posted by penciltopper on Oct 5, 2007 - 13 answers

Pounding sound in my left ear: how worried should I be? [more inside]
posted by arianell on Aug 19, 2007 - 15 answers

Why do babies pull their ears when they are tired? [more inside]
posted by DenOfSizer on Aug 6, 2007 - 11 answers

You know when you think something that happens to you is normal and then you find out it's not??? I've given up asking my circle of friends about this as they all seem to think I've lost the plot. After I have peppermints or peppermint chewing gum...I can't drink water as it makes excrutiating pain happen in my ears. Not the outer pinna, obviously but inside... Anyone else have this happen??? More imporatantly anyone know why this happens?
posted by Civa on Feb 1, 2007 - 10 answers

Why are my ears itchy all the time? :( [more inside]
posted by aeighty on Feb 1, 2007 - 24 answers

I edit video at home. It can be a fairly noisy environment as I live in a busy part of L.A. so I often use headphones while I work. Nothing odd about that; however... [more inside]
posted by rocco on Jan 6, 2007 - 16 answers

Ear wiggling/waggling: what percentage of people can visibly move their ears by voluntary exertion of their auricular muscles? I am especially interested in the results of medical / biological surveys on this question, if there have been any. I have read that 'Spanish men are twice as likely to wiggle their ears (20 percent) as are women,' but don't know the source or trustworthiness of this statistic, or if the Spanish are exceptional in this regard. [more inside]
posted by misteraitch on Dec 4, 2006 - 22 answers

My ears feel swollen after using a headset for a few days. Anyone have any experience with this? [more inside]
posted by bob sarabia on Nov 10, 2006 - 9 answers

headphone choice for non symmetrical hearing: my father is mostly-deaf in one ear. He wears an in-ear hearing aid that works well. He would like to find the following... [more inside]
posted by luriete on Oct 24, 2006 - 4 answers

If I'm listening to music predominantly through one ear I get a really intense pain in the opposite ear after about thirty seconds. What's happening? [more inside]
posted by twine42 on Oct 10, 2006 - 3 answers

What can I do to increase my hearing ability? [more inside]
posted by MeetMegan on Sep 15, 2006 - 8 answers

Is there something wrong with my ears? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 13, 2006 - 23 answers

How do I get my cat to stop biting my other cat's ears? [more inside]
posted by scazza on May 1, 2006 - 5 answers

How loud are the passenger cabins of commercial airplanes? [more inside]
posted by werty on Apr 26, 2006 - 10 answers

If sound were to travel closer to, say, the speed of light than the speed of sound, would we still be able to determine its horizontal direction? [more inside]
posted by disillusioned on Apr 10, 2006 - 18 answers

How do I get rid of the stink around my 5 month old's ears? [more inside]
posted by Chuck Cheeze on Mar 28, 2006 - 20 answers

My ears plug up whenever I run. Please help me hear again. [more inside]
posted by meerkatty on Mar 27, 2006 - 3 answers

How do I unclog my ear? [more inside]
posted by purplefiber on Jan 5, 2006 - 31 answers

will my girlfriend be able to scuba dive? She has ear problems. [more inside]
posted by alkupe on Oct 26, 2005 - 11 answers

PiercingFilter: What's that white goo in my ear piercings? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 14, 2005 - 8 answers

Does everybody hear some sort of ringing in their ears when in total silence? Or is it just me?
posted by punkfloyd on Aug 26, 2005 - 30 answers

Sometime when I get tired, I start to hear things as if from under water and my own voice sounds particularly echo-y. This rather uncomfortable condition can last up to an hour or longer. Is there a proper medical term for this condition or is this just a version of tinnitus? And why?
posted by of strange foe on Aug 11, 2005 - 4 answers

I stood next to the speakers at a hip-hop concert last night, and my ears are still ringing. Does this mean that they'll be ringing forever? [more inside]
posted by scalespace on May 1, 2005 - 37 answers

Frequently when I blow my nose, my ear will pop. Immediately following my ear popping I feel extremely faint, I've never passed out as a result, but certainly feel light headed enough that I've thought that I might. Does this happen to anyone else? Is there anything I can do to alleviate the light headed feeling?
posted by TuxHeDoh on Apr 27, 2005 - 11 answers

Is there something I can do so that I do not have excruciating pain in my ears when landing during a commercial flight? [more inside]
posted by xmutex on Nov 29, 2004 - 16 answers

Remedies for opening up a congested ear canal? I've had a sinus/ear infection this week, and am currently taking both a decongestant and an antibiotic. My head seems to be clearing nicely, except my inner ear on one side which feels completely blocked. I'm trying hot compresses and steam. Are there any other suggested methods to clear this up at home?
posted by vers on Nov 19, 2004 - 22 answers

Get your ears pinned back: anyone done it? as an adult? Is it sore? How long does it take to recover? Do they pop back out? Is it expensive? Any and all info gratefully received.
posted by bonaldi on Oct 26, 2004 - 2 answers

What's a surefire way to pop one's ear following a flight on an airplane (or anytime else)? [more inside]
posted by werty on Mar 27, 2004 - 16 answers