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).
If your ears are plugged, try swallowing, yawning or chewing sugar-free gum to open your eustachian tubes. If this doesn't work, take a deep breath and try to blow out of your nose gently while pinching your nostrils closed and keeping your mouth shut. If you hear a popping noise, you know you have succeeded.
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.
In many cases, a muffled ear will go away on its own. This is especially true for conditions like airplane ear, or sickness-related hearing loss.
A few days is normally enough time for your body to clear up any blockage. But it might be, as a general rule of thumb, a prudent decision to come see us if your blockage lasts for more than a week. Early indications of hearing loss can also feel like clogged ears.
Causes of Sudden Hearing Loss
If fluid buildup behind the eardrum is not treated in a timely manner, it can eventually cause enough pressure to rupture the membrane. Sudden hearing loss is less often caused by more serious conditions. These can include viruses, tumors and strokes in the inner ear.
There are several reasons for ear fullness, including ear infections, fluid accumulation inside the pinna (outer ear), barotrauma (pressure trauma), and puncture injuries. The cause of ear fullness is unknown to some people, and it is often related to head pressure or fullness in the ears.
One such concern is muffled hearing, which is a common issue that can be both bothersome and have adverse effects on one's health. If left untreated, it may potentially lead to further health complications, which is why it's essential to seek appropriate treatment.
Decongestants or antihistamines may sometimes help. Common causes of clogged ears include changes in altitude or atmospheric pressure, eustachian tube dysfunction, ear infections, and fluid, foreign objects, or ear wax blocking the eustachian tube. Most of the time, these problems are easily diagnosed and treated.
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.
If your ears are full of wax, they can often feel clogged.
Gural-Toth. “However, if it doesn't come out in a day or two, seek medical attention so a health care provider can remove it safely.” Dr. Gural-Toth says that you should never attempt to remove ear wax using a Q-tip.
To do this, just gently massage the outside of the ear using circular movements. That way, the impaction will soften, which can help the earwax drain more easily. Once you've finished making these circular movements, pull your ear slightly backwards, from the lobe to the top of the auricle.
For most people, blocked ears are a temporary condition that will clear up when the pressure in the ears returns to normal. However, if this doesn't happen a visit to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) professional may be helpful.
Although ear pressure buildup is a common issue with many causes, there can be serious conditions that are causing this issue. If you're suffering from a serious condition, your doctor can work to treat the issue and alleviate the pressure in your ear.
Signs and symptoms of single-sided deafness may include: Tinnitus (ringing) in only one ear. Asking others to repeat themselves. Favoring one ear over the other on the phone or in conversations.
Ear stroke is also known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss. In as short as three days, the patients will suddenly lose part or all of their hearing ability. Meanwhile, they may experience sudden dizziness, tinnitus and earache.
If you notice a sudden change in your hearing, Contact your physician immediately and demand an emergency appointment. If they can't make that happen, go to Urgent Care.
Mucus or pus can build up behind the eardrum, causing pressure and pain. In general, COVID-19 has not been associated with ear infections, and generally these types of infections do not share a great deal of common symptoms.