Everyday Health
Ear Pain Consultation
Ear pain does not always come from the ear. We look, work out what is causing it, and act accordingly.
Available from 1 October 2026 – register your interestBook a consultation Call 01453 810316
- Available
- From 1 October 2026
- Examination
- Ear examined with an otoscope
- Who
- Adults and children assessed
- Referral
- Referral where needed
About this service
Ear pain has a surprisingly long list of causes, and a good proportion of the time the ear itself is entirely normal, which is why examination matters rather than guessing. Causes within the ear include middle ear infection, outer ear infection, a build-up of ear wax pressing on the canal or eardrum, and barotrauma from flying or diving. Referred ear pain, meaning pain felt in the ear but originating elsewhere, commonly comes from the jaw joint, particularly in people who clench or grind their teeth, from dental problems, from the throat and tonsils, and from the neck. That is why we ask about your teeth, jaw, throat and neck as well as your ear.
If your ear pain turns out to be caused by wax, our ear wax removal service can usually deal with it at the same visit or shortly afterwards. Some causes of ear pain need urgent or prompt medical assessment, and we check carefully for those at every consultation. At Berkeley Pharmacy our ear pain consultation offers a proper examination of both ears with an otoscope, questions that reach beyond the ear to the jaw, teeth, throat and neck, an honest explanation of what we think is causing the pain, treatment on the day where that is appropriate, and a clear referral to your GP or dentist where the cause sits with them.
What ear pain is and where it can come from
Ear pain has a surprisingly long list of causes, and a good proportion of the time the ear itself is entirely normal, which is why examination matters rather than guessing. Causes within the ear include middle ear infection, outer ear infection, a build-up of ear wax pressing on the canal or eardrum, and barotrauma from flying or diving.
Referred ear pain, meaning pain felt in the ear but originating elsewhere, commonly comes from the jaw joint, particularly in people who clench or grind their teeth, from dental problems, from the throat and tonsils, and from the neck. That is why we ask about your teeth, jaw, throat and neck as well as your ear. If your ear pain turns out to be caused by wax, our ear wax removal service can usually deal with it at the same visit or shortly afterwards. Some causes of ear pain need urgent or prompt medical assessment, and we check for those.
Who this service is for
Suitable for
- Adults and children with ear pain of any kind
- People whose ear pain came on after a flight, a cold or swimming
- Anyone with ear pain who has also noticed jaw clicking, tooth pain or a sore throat
- People with a blocked feeling and reduced hearing
- Anyone who would rather have it looked at than take painkillers and hope
Not suitable for
- Severe pain with a very unwell adult or child, high fever, neck stiffness or confusion, which needs urgent medical care
- Swelling, redness or tenderness of the bone behind the ear
- Facial weakness, severe dizziness or sudden hearing loss, which need urgent assessment
- Ear pain after a head injury
- Persistent one-sided ear pain in an adult with a hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing or a neck lump, which needs prompt medical review
How it works
A simple, consistent process for every service at Berkeley Pharmacy.
Get in touch
Call us or use our contact form to arrange a consultation.
Consultation
A private, face-to-face appointment with our pharmacist in our Berkeley consultation room.
Clinical assessment
We review your medical history and confirm whether the service is suitable for you.
Treatment or referral
If it is suitable we treat you the same day; if not, we explain why and advise on the best next step.
What to expect at your appointment
Your consultation covers the character, timing and triggers of the pain, and reaches beyond the ear to your teeth, jaw, throat and neck, because referred ear pain commonly comes from those places. We then examine both ears with an otoscope.
- A consultation covering the character, timing and triggers of the pain, and whether there is discharge, hearing change, dizziness or tinnitus
- Questions about your teeth, jaw, throat, neck and any recent flights, colds or water exposure
- Examination of both ears with an otoscope
- An explanation of what we can see and what we think is causing the pain
- Treatment on the day where that is appropriate, referral to our ear wax removal service where wax is the cause, or referral to your GP or dentist where the cause sits with them
Aftercare and self-care
Regular simple pain relief taken properly makes a real difference while the cause settles, and the right self-care depends on what is actually causing the pain, which is why we explain it clearly at your consultation.
- Regular simple pain relief taken properly makes a real difference while the cause settles
- Keep the ear dry if there is any discharge, and do not use cotton buds
- If the cause is your jaw joint, a soft diet for a few days, avoiding chewing gum and wide yawning, gentle jaw exercises and dealing with night-time clenching all help, and your dentist can advise further
- If flying caused it, swallowing, yawning and chewing during descent help, and avoid flying with a heavy cold where you can
- Come back if the pain is not settling, if it gets worse, or if new symptoms appear
Frequently asked questions
Can ear pain come from something other than the ear?
Yes, and a good proportion of the time the ear itself is entirely normal. Referred ear pain, meaning pain felt in the ear but originating elsewhere, commonly comes from the jaw joint, particularly in people who clench or grind their teeth, from dental problems, from the throat and tonsils, and from the neck. That is why we ask about your teeth, jaw, throat and neck as well as your ear, and examine both ears with an otoscope before reaching a conclusion.
Could my ear pain be caused by ear wax?
Yes. A build-up of ear wax pressing on the canal or eardrum is one of the causes within the ear, and it can produce a blocked feeling, reduced hearing and pain. If your ear pain turns out to be caused by wax, our ear wax removal service can usually deal with it at the same visit or shortly afterwards, so you do not need a separate appointment elsewhere.
Why does my ear hurt after flying?
Ear pain after flying is usually barotrauma, caused by pressure changes during descent not equalising across the eardrum, particularly when you have a cold. Swallowing, yawning and chewing during descent help, and avoiding flying with a heavy cold where you can is sensible. We can assess the ear with an otoscope to confirm there is no lasting problem and advise on self-care.
Can teeth grinding cause ear pain?
Yes. Referred ear pain commonly comes from the jaw joint, particularly in people who clench or grind their teeth, because the jaw joint sits very close to the ear and shares nerve pathways. If the cause is your jaw joint, a soft diet for a few days, avoiding chewing gum and wide yawning, gentle jaw exercises and dealing with night-time clenching all help, and your dentist can advise further.
When does ear pain need urgent medical attention?
You need urgent medical care for severe pain with a very unwell adult or child, high fever, neck stiffness or confusion, swelling, redness or tenderness of the bone behind the ear, facial weakness, severe dizziness or sudden hearing loss, or ear pain after a head injury. Persistent one-sided ear pain in an adult with a hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing or a neck lump needs prompt medical review. We check carefully for all of these at your consultation.
When is this service available?
This service will be available from 1 October 2026. If you have severe pain with a very unwell adult or child, high fever, neck stiffness, confusion, swelling behind the ear, facial weakness, severe dizziness, sudden hearing loss or ear pain after a head injury before then, please seek urgent medical care rather than waiting.
How we can supply treatment without a GP appointment
Some treatments at Berkeley Pharmacy are supplied under a Patient Group Direction, or PGD – a written instruction, signed by a doctor and a pharmacist, that legally allows our trained pharmacists to supply and administer specified medicines to people who meet defined clinical criteria, without a prescription from your GP. If you do not meet the criteria set out in the PGD we cannot supply the treatment, and we will explain why and advise you on the best next step. Our pharmacists also work as independent prescribers where that is appropriate.
Serving Berkeley and the surrounding Gloucestershire villages
Berkeley Pharmacy is on Market Place in the centre of Berkeley, with easy access from junctions 13 and 14 of the M5. We welcome patients from Berkeley, Sharpness, Newport, Berkeley Heath, Alkington, Ham, Stone and Rockhampton, and we are a short drive from Cam, Dursley, Slimbridge, Cambridge, Falfield, Charfield, Tortworth, Cromhall, Oldbury-on-Severn, Wotton-under-Edge, Thornbury, Frampton on Severn and Stonehouse. Patients also travel to us from Stroud, Nailsworth, Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Tetbury and Gloucester.
Safe, regulated care from your local pharmacy team
- Berkeley Pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. You can check any pharmacy or pharmacist on the GPhC register at pharmacyregulation.org.
- Every consultation is face to face and private, in our dedicated consultation room – not an online questionnaire.
- Serving the Berkeley community for over 25 years.
- This service does not replace care from your GP. With your consent we will inform your GP of any treatment provided. If you are unwell, have new or worsening symptoms, or need urgent care, contact your GP or NHS 111, and in an emergency call 999.
- If you experience a side effect from any medicine you can report it through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk.
Page last reviewed: September 2026. Next review due: September 2027.
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Find out moreSpeak to our pharmacy team about ear pain consultation
Visit us in Berkeley or get in touch to arrange a private consultation with our pharmacist.
Book a consultation Call 01453 810316
Address
14 Market Place, Berkeley, GL13 9BB
Opening hours
Mon–Fri 9am–6pm (closed 1–2pm)
Sat 9am–1pm
Sun Closed