We investigate whether the claim that a woman loses her hearing after receiving an intense kiss on the ear is true.

Can a kiss on the ear inflict long-term harm even though it seems like a pleasant, innocent gesture? A New York mother reportedly lost hearing in one of her ears when her child kissed her too forcefully on the ear, according to this Instagram footage posted by general practitioner Dr. Samuel. We asked the professionals to explain how that could occur.The main worry isn't the kiss itself, but rather what can happen after it, according to Dr. Ashesh Bhushan, Head of the ENT Department at Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital in Greater Noida. There is a little chance of harming the auditory system if the kiss involves a loud, abrupt noise or whisper close to the ear.

Loud sounds, particularly those near the ear, can harm hearing temporarily or permanently. Hearing problems can be caused by "directly blowing air or applying excessive pressure to the ear, but this is rare," according to Dr. Bhushan.The ear is susceptible to pressure shifts and loud noise exposure. Activities that increase ear pressure, such as diving or flying, are more likely to produce conditions like barotrauma—pressure-related ear injuries—even if the gentle act of kissing is generally safe. In contrast to these more extreme situations, Dr. Bhushan continues, the chance of acquiring hearing problems from such benign acts is very low.However, blowing directly into the ear or making an atypically loud sound while kissing could cause sudden air pressure to enter the ear, which could cause short-term hearing problems. Rarely, the hearing loss could go away on its own without the help of a doctor. On the other hand, damage to the ear that results from physical trauma may be irreparable.