Referred Otalgia

Ear pain that is not caused by an ear infection or ear trauma is referred to as referred otalgia. The causes can be due to:

• Temporal Mandibular Disorder (TMD)
• Sore throat
• Tumor/cancer of the skull base and head and neck
• Salivary gland infection or
• Sinus infection

A complete head and neck exam is required including a fiberoptic laryngoscopy.

Possible Testing

• Audiogram
• Tympanogram
• Fiberoptic Laryngoscopy
• MRI Brain/ Base of skull
• Panorex

Possible Treatments

• Oral guard
• Heating pad
• Soft diet
• Treatment for sinusitis or salivary gland infection
• Direct laryngoscopy with biopsy in OR

Fact Sheets

• TMJ Pain
• Earaches