Your explanation sounds plausible but I don't have any problems in my right ear and I wear ear plugs in both ears. I have never tried pulling on my ear lobe but the slight pain is almost all gone now since I have stopped the ear plugs. But I can tell it is still sensitive/tender. Still, just in case, do I need to get my ears cleaned? or can I leave things as they are? I haven't experienced anything from the list you posted, at least not lately. I am planning on buying ear muffs for when I vacuum. Could they cause any problems? Thank you!