Ear Pain and Earache Ear pain, also called an earache, can happen for many reasons. It may come from the ear itself, or it may be “referred pain” from nearby areas such as the throat, sinuses, jaw, teeth, or neck. Some ear pain improves with supportive care, but other cases need medical evaluation, especially if symptoms are severe, worsening, or associated with fever, drainage, hearing loss, dizziness, or swelling around the ear. Common causes of ear pain Ear pain may be cau