If your pillow enables your body to exert pressure on your ears, it most definitely plays its part in developing an earache. Most pillows that aren’t designed to help you cope with your ear pain, tend to have a rather firm support with friction enabling pillow covers.
Sleeping on such pillows, especially on your side, for a long period of time can exert pressure on your outer ear, causing it to swell and become painful. Specially designed pillows with ear holes are gaining popularity for their ability to prevent you from exerting pressure on your ear while you sleep during the night.