How does a doctor drain a ear for an ear infection. do you have to be put to sleep?

Tapping the Drum: The ear canal and drum can be effectively anesthetized with local anesthetic drops in the office. Using the proper instruments an ENT physician can then easily make a minature incision in the membrane of the drum and allow painful, high pressure fluid accumulations to easily drain. A small tube is often inserted to allow further drainage of the infectious fluid which later falls out by itself.

Not osteopaths: Some osteopathic physicians know how to do a gentle massage that can drain the fluid naturally from the ears, down the eustachian tube as it is intended to do.

Rarely needs surgery: True fluid and hearing loss most often will clear on its own with decongestants and treatment for whatever led to the fluid in the first place (uri, sinusitis, allergy). This can be combined with holding your nose and blowing into the nose trying to "pop" your ears. Rarely fluid won't clear and adults can have it drained under a local or topical anesthetic. Fluid is often misdiagnosed - watch out!