The human body is immensely complex and relies on numerous systems working together to ensure it functions properly. The heart continuously pumps blood to the organs, and the brain constantly coordinates the action of muscles and organs throughout the body.
With such an interconnected body, a few oddities are inevitable, and coughing when you touch your ear is a perfect example.
Here is some insight into the science behind this unique phenomenon, as well as the right way to clean your ears.
What is a reflex?
A reflex is usually an automatic reaction to a certain type of stimulus. In humans, reflexes are actions considered to occur without the intervention of the brain or conscious thought.
The most widely known reflex is the patellar reflex (knee-jerk reflex). During a check-up, your doctor will usually have you sit with your leg dangling and strike your knee with a special instrument called a reflex hammer. When the knee is struck, the leg kicks out on its own.
There are many different reflexes in the human body. Some play an important role in diagnostic tests that check for proper neurological function. Here is an overview of a few unique reflexes, including the one that makes you cough when you put something in your ear.
What is the Babinski reflex?
A reflex you may be familiar with is the Babinski reflex. The stimulus that triggers it involves sliding an object along the sole of the foot of a person lying on their back.
In a neurologically healthy adult, this action causes the toes to flex downward. In a healthy child under two years old and in adults with neurological disorders, rubbing the sole of the foot causes the toes to fan out instead.
The Babinski reflex is a very useful diagnostic tool because it is non-invasive, quick to perform, and can indicate an underlying issue.
What is the palmar grasp reflex?
The palmar grasp reflex is specific to infants. It is usually present until about six months of age. With this reflex, when something brushes against a baby’s palm, they close their hand and grip it. An absence of the grasp reflex during this period can signal an underlying problem.
What is the Arnold's nerve ear-cough reflex?
The Arnold's nerve ear-cough reflex is quite unique, and few people have it. This reflex is triggered by physical stimulation of the external auditory canal and causes the person to cough.
This reflex is not necessarily a sign of a problem in the body, but it can become annoying and even contribute to conditions such as a chronic cough.
What causes the Arnold's nerve ear-cough reflex?
The Arnold's nerve ear-cough reflex is not a common reflex. If you are one of the few people who have it, you may be wondering why you have this reflex and others do not.
Here is an overview of the different elements that contribute to the Arnold's nerve ear-cough reflex.
What is Arnold's nerve?
Arnold's nerve is a small branch of the vagus nerve, called the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. This nerve is connected to the sensory neurons of the ear canal. In people who have the Arnold's reflex, their activation leads to stimulation of the vagus nerve.
It is this area that is considered responsible for the ear-cough reflex, as these individuals have hypersensitivity to stimulation of the inner ear.
What is the vagus nerve?
The vagus nerve is one of the most extensive nerves in the human body; it performs a very large number of functions. It participates in the regulation of vital organs such as the digestive tract, heart, and lungs. In addition to helping regulate these organs, it is also responsible for reflexes such as coughing, sneezing, and swallowing.
In people with the Arnold's reflex, signals related to throat irritation and the sensation of touch in the inner ear are thought to get mixed up. This results in a cough after stimulation of the ear canal.
Precautions for people with the Arnold's reflex
People with the Arnold's reflex can live quite normal lives without ever thinking about this quirk. However, some precautions should be taken to avoid accidental ear injury.
The first precaution is to completely avoid the use of cotton swabs or any other objects to physically clean the ear canals. Using them can be dangerous: you are cleaning your ears, and the next second, you lose control and start coughing with an object in your ear. This scenario is a recipe for disaster and can lead to a perforated eardrum.
Another problem people with the Arnold's reflex may encounter is a chronic cough. Depending on the sensitivity of the reflex, the slightest stimulation can trigger a cough. A case study of people with the Arnold's reflex and a chronic cough showed that treatment with gabapentin provided promising results for the reflex and the cough.
How to properly clean your ears
Whether or not you have the ear-cough reflex, you should avoid putting anything into your ear canal. Doing so puts your eardrum at unnecessary risk and can actually push earwax deeper into the ear canal, where it eventually becomes blocked.
Earwax is normally able to exit the ears on its own, but old earwax can accumulate and cause problems such as conductive hearing loss, tinnitus, and much more.
If you have an accumulation of earwax, the following techniques are excellent starting points to remove the wax and get your hearing back to how it was before the wax got between you and the sounds.
Ear cleaning solution
One of the best and safest options for cleaning your ears is an ear cleaning solution. These solutions usually contain some form of peroxide which, upon contact with earwax, releases oxygen. The fizzing effect of the solution helps to gently break down the earwax accumulation and dissolve it into the liquid.
The steps for using an ear cleaning solution are quite simple. You first lie on your side with one ear facing up. You then instill the indicated number of drops and massage the ear gently so that the solution reaches the deeper parts of the canal.
You then wait a few minutes to let the solution work. After a few minutes, you can place a towel down and let the ear drain. If any earwax remains, you can use an ear bulb syringe and warm water to rinse it gently.
Oil
Another safe technique for cleaning your ears is oil. Oil is not an obvious cleaning product for ears, but it can be very effective. It works by softening the old, hardened earwax in the ear. Once softened, the earwax comes out of the ear more easily, naturally, and over time.
Oil is not a quick fix: it can take several weeks to completely clear an accumulation of earwax. It is not fast, but it is one of the gentlest methods for your ears and relies on the ear’s self-cleaning properties to expel the earwax.
Oil can also serve as an effective pre-treatment before other removal techniques, such as ear cleaning solutions or irrigation: it softens the earwax and improves the amount removed. It also has the added benefit of moisturizing the ear canal, which can help combat irritation.
Irrigation
The last method that can help you clean your ears safely is ear irrigation. It involves rinsing the ears using a syringe filled with warm water. Warm water is generally used, and pre-treatment with oil often allows for a more effective cleaning.
Unlike other methods, ear irrigation introduces liquid into the ear with a certain amount of pressure. It must be performed at low pressure to avoid injury. If this method worries you, have your doctor perform it instead.
Rare reflexes
In summary, coughing when cleaning your ears may indicate that you have the Arnold's nerve ear-cough reflex. This rare reflex causes affected individuals to cough when their ear canal is touched, which explains why you cough when you clean your ears.
This reflex is due to hypersensitivity of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve and can sometimes be relieved by certain medications.
Sources
What is a reflex? | NCBI
Palmar Grasp Reflex - StatPearls | NCBI Bookshelf
Arnold's nerve cough reflex: evidence for chronic cough as a sensory vagal neuropathy | NCBI
