Ear pain can be referred from problems in the throat, or the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ), which often leads to
problems when people grind their teeth
at night. Ear pain can also be referred pain from a dental problem, such as a tooth abscess.
In the presence of associated symptoms such as hoarseness, weight loss, difficulty swallowing, pain during swallowing, recurrent nose bleeds, or a neck mass, ear pain may be indicative of a tumor in the head or neck area.