My 2 year old has started trying to put things in her ears...things like ink pens or the ear piece on a pair of sunglasses. Is this just one of those weird things toddlers will try to do? Or could it be a symptom of something else?
Some background information...
She was seen by her pediatrician this week. Her ears were not infected then. She did have a sinus infection. She is currently taking zithromax and claritin. She does not have a fever. She has not been holding or pulling on her ears.
She does seem to have a speech delay. She has been in speech therapy for almost a month now. She has not had her hearing officially tested. I am supposed to be receiving a referral for that anytime now. I cannot make an appointment for that until her dr gives me the referral.
I was wondering if she could have fluid in her ear(s) and the pressure could be bothering her, thus she tries to stick things in there? Or if they could be itching or something? Or am I making a big deal out of nothing? ;)
It could be that her ears are itching or intermittently filling with fluid. I have sinuses and allergy problems and when they peak my ears itch something terrible and I have to stop short of scratching my ear canal raw.
It is very important that they find out if she is getting fluid in her ears because that can cause long-term damage to her hearing and her speech. Best wishes!
y.
Maybe she sorta liked when she had her ears examined and is trying to get that feeling again on her own. Maybe they itch which can be normal. Maybe shes just discovered theres a hole there and stuff can go in. Or the sinus infection has moved to her ears and its starting to bother her. Have the Dr recheck her ears. And tell her not to put stuff in her ears,,lol
I don't know your situation, and it sounds like there could potentially be other issues there, but I just wanted to let you know that both my boys did that for a little while. My 17 month old does it now. He isn't obsessive about it, but I will catch him doing it. I think it's just a new sensation and new part of their body that they are discovering. He will also plug and unplug his ears with his fingers to hear the difference in sounds. If she's doing it obsessively then there might be something going on, but if not, I don't think you need to be concerned.
It's a toddler thing.... Mine has taken to trying to put things in her nose. She put a piece of cat food in there one night. Boy was that a fun time... :) Tweezers got it out, but boy that thing had swelled up and she was SCREAMING. She apparently hasn't learned her lesson. Well, I guess she sort of has... She hasn't tried to put cat food up there again, but she's definitely been caught trying to put other things up there!
(As a p.s. both my husband and myself put things up our noses at around the same age. Crazy kids... :) )
I am such a freak about the ears. My best friend went deaf from an ear infection when she was 3. I would probably take her to have her ears checked again. I would definitely have her hearing tested, especially if she has a speech delay.
Back when I used to work in a daycare, there was a little boy who did this. I don't know precisely what the problem was, but when they took him in finally to check his ears and clean them, he had all sorts of crazy things in there. Stuff that I wouldn't have imagined that could fit in there. Erasers, leaves, twigs, etc. It could be like an OCD thing or something. My son sniffs his fingers after everything. He wipes his nose and he smells his finger. He pets the dogs, washes his hands, plays with something, and he smells his fingers. It might be something similar, or a soothing thing for her. I know when I clean my ears with q-tips, I'm in heaven :)
I am betting she has fluid in there and it is making them itch. so she sticks things in her ears. Fluid does cause a speech delay if bad enough. Sinus infections will play between the ears and the nose. that is why most doctors are ear,nose and throat. Mine does not get fevers with ear infections. He also doesn't pull or hold his ears when he is infected. And boy do I have ear problems with him. We have had so many problems with his its unbelievable. But he never plays with them or runs fevers. I suggest an ent.I am with Molly though I am a freak when it comes to ears. :)
