If left untreated, swimmer's ear may cause other problems such as: Hearing loss from a swollen and inflamed ear canal. Hearing usually returns to normal when the infection clears up.
Gently pull on your ear: Pull the earlobe slightly while tilting the head towards your shoulder to increase the size of your ear cavity, making it easier for the to water roll out. Use a hair dryer. Using a hair dryer can also help dry your ear canal properly and get rid of the water inside the ears.
Complications. Swimmer's ear usually isn't serious if treated promptly, but complications can occur. Temporary hearing loss. You might have muffled hearing that usually gets better after the infection clears.
“When water doesn't trickle out on its own, you could risk developing swimmer's ear, a type of ear infection in the outer ear canal or the opening of the ear to the eardrum,” said Heather Coffman, MD, an ear, nose and throat specialist with Banner – University Medical Center Tucson.
If the water stays trapped for more than a day or if you experience pain, swelling, or discharge from the ear, it's important to see a doctor as it could be a sign of an infection or other underlying condition.
A few drops of mineral oil, baby oil, glycerin, or hydrogen peroxide in your ear can soften the wax and help clear it out. If that doesn't work, see your doctor. They may use a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water to try to flush it out or use special tools to remove the wax and improve your hearing.
Symptoms of hearing loss may include: Muffling of speech and other sounds. Trouble understanding words, especially when in a crowd or a noisy place. Trouble hearing the letters of the alphabet that aren't vowels.
Hearing Loss Can Be Temporary or Permanent
In some cases, hearing loss can be temporary. However, it can become permanent when vital parts of the ear have been damaged beyond repair. Damage to any part of the ear can lead to hearing loss. Loud noise is particularly harmful to the inner ear (cochlea).
How Long Does a Muffled Ear Last? Depending on the cause of your muffled hearing, it might last only a few seconds or minutes. However, some conditions may result in a recurring sense of hearing loss. If you fear that what you are experiencing will not go away on its own, then you should seek medical attention.
The fluid is most likely to go away quickly if it has been there less than three months or has a known start time, such as after a cold or ear infection.
In some cases, muffled hearing may resolve in a few hours, such as in cases of congestion or a mild cold. However, if muffled hearing persists, it's best to seek care from a medical professional, as the earlier the condition is diagnosed, the better chance you have of receiving successful treatment.
They can remain this way for several days or even weeks, which is why it takes some time to regain your full sense of hearing. The louder the noise and the longer the exposure, the longer it will take to recover. In most cases, it is high-frequency sounds like consonants that are most affected.
As with damaged hair cells, the good news is that the eardrum is capable of repairing itself when it's torn and is usually back to its old self in a few weeks — although in some cases, intervention in the form of a patch is required to assist in healing.
A permanent hearing loss can develop and become worse (more severe) but never get better. This means that the hearing loss cannot be reversed and that there is no medical cure or treatment that can bring the hearing back or restore hearing, unless the hearing loss is caused by e.g. infections or earwax.
When people experience a blockage of their ears through excessive or impacted ear wax their immediate perception could be that they have gone suddenly deaf. Fortunately, very few people ever lose their hearing completely and certainly never as a result of a build-up of ear wax.
There are a number of signs and symptoms that can indicate a ruptured eardrum. They include some of the following: a sudden increase or decrease in pain, bloody discharge from the ear with pus, hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo or a spinning sensation, and nausea and vomiting from the vertigo.
a ringing or buzzing sound in your ear (tinnitus) earache or ear pain. itching in your ear. clear fluid, blood or pus leaking from your ear.
Clogged ears can also result from swollen or blocked eustachian tubes, which connect the middle ear to the back of the throat. This can happen for brief periods during air travel, but also due to allergies, sinus or ear infections, or other respiratory viruses (including COVID-19).
What Causes Muffled Hearing? If your ear feels clogged and muffled, you may have a Middle Ear Infection, also known as Otitis Media. You may even see fluid visibly draining from the ear, and it will probably also be sensitive to touch. In more severe cases, it can cause nausea and vomit.
Symptoms of fluid buildup may include: Popping, ringing, or a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear. Trouble hearing. Balance problems and dizziness.
The ear canal may drain liquid. Otitis media with effusion: After an infection goes away, fluid (effusion) and mucus build up, causing your ear to “feel full.” This can go on for months and may affect hearing.
If you have water in your ears, your ears may feel plugged and you may have muffled hearing. You may also have ear pain, a loss of balance, ringing in the ears, a runny nose or a sore throat.
Why is sound muffled when there doesn't appear to be anything inside your ear canal? The causes can range from the earwax to allergies to infections (yes, including COVID) to more insidious conditions like an anxiety disorder or Meniere's disease.