Can a Kiss on the Ear Cause Hearing Loss? Experts Weigh In

An ear kiss may look like a gentle, harmless gesture, but can it ever damage hearing? This new question was making the rounds last week when an Instagram reel by general practitioner Dr. Samuel documented a case where a New York woman allegedly lost hearing in one ear after her child forcibly kissed her. It sounds ridiculous, yet we asked ENT doctors if there is any truth to the astonishing claim.

How a kiss can damage your hearing

"It is not the kiss, but the pressure or force behind it that can cause damage to the hearing", said Dr. Ashesh Bhushan, Head of the ENT department at Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital in Greater Noida to The Indian Express. “Directly blowing air or applying excessive pressure to the ear may result in hearing complications, but this is rare.” he says.

At times, such incidents may result in short-term alterations in hearing or, in extreme cases, long-term damage, especially involving the eardrum or internal ear components.

The Role of Pressure and Sound Near the Ear

Pressure and loud sound are both sensed by the ears. Under usual circumstances, gentle kissing is not dangerous. Spontaneous bursts of air or noise in close proximity to the ear canal can be associated with transient hearing loss, though. Greater pressure differences, such as from aircraft flight or diving, are more apt to be secondary to diseases like barotrauma, where injury occurs due to pressure gradients within the ear.

Dr. Bhushan adds that although ear kissing resulting in hearing loss is very rare, one should never blow air inside a person's ear or yell nearby, particularly with kids.

Other Possible Effects: From Tinnitus to Ear Infections

Other than hearing changes that are transient, loud noises or abrupt pressure near the ear may also lead to tinnitus, a ringing or buzzing sensation.

Another issue is an ear infection. Air or water that enters the ear can compromise its natural defenses and lead to inflammation or infection. In other cases, the pressure imbalance can also impact the Eustachian tubes, leading to hearing loss or muffled sounds.

When to see a doctor

Even if ear popping is unlikely to cause significant damage, sudden hearing loss, ringing in the ears, or persistent pain should not be ignored.  “Hearing changes should never be ignored,” says Dr. Bhushan.

Early diagnosis can avoid continued complications, and in some cases, prompt treatment can eliminate the problem entirely.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)