Squishy Toy Burst, Sending Beads Deep Into 8-Year-Old Girl's Ear

A girl named Hadar, 8, from central Israel, suffered an unusual ear injury after a popular “squishy” toy burst while she was playing with friends. The toy suddenly tore apart, scattering parts in all directions, and she soon felt something odd in her right ear and began scratching it, sensing that a foreign object had become lodged inside.

When she got home, her mother realized that one of the game’s beads had entered the ear. The mother tried to remove the visible fragments but could not get them out, so the family turned to Dr. Adi Weiss-Pink, a pediatric specialist with Clalit’s Dan-Petah Tikva district. After examining Hadar, the doctor saw that pieces of the toy had penetrated deep into the ear canal and referred her to a hospital for specialized ear, nose and throat treatment.

Hadar was treated at Schneider Medical Center by Dr. Mor Shaked-Shukron, an ENT physician. He said the attempts to remove the material had also injured the ear, so the team used a microscope and specialized equipment to assess the damage and safely extract the fragments. He said they first considered whether the procedure could be done in the clinic or would require sedation.

Hadar cooperated well, and the team removed several remaining beads and pieces from the ear, cleaned the area, and checked that there was no damage to the ear canal or eardrum. She is now being followed to make sure she heals properly. Shaked-Shukron said foreign bodies in children’s ears and noses are not uncommon, and emphasized that specialized equipment and experience are important for safe removal.