Muffled hearing can be a real bother. After all, our sense of hearing is very important. We depend on it as much as we depend on our other five senses. Muffled hearing may feel like many different sensations. It may feel like your ears have popped, or it may feel like you’re in an airplane. There isn’t complete hearing loss, but it can feel as though there is something stuffed inside the ear. Muffled hearing can also feel like sounds that are close by are in the next room. There will be partial hearing loss and it may be confusing and disconcerting. So, what is the cause of muffled hearing? What can be done to treat or remedy muffled hearing? Muffled hearing is sometimes referred to as a clogged ear. Many issues can cause muffled hearing. Many of these issues will resolve themselves without medical attention, but sometimes it is a good idea to seek medical advice. Village Emergency Centers answers all your questions about muffled hearing.
Symptoms of Muffled Hearing
Muffled hearing may have many other symptoms that don’t include slightly decreased hearing. Some of the other symptoms of muffled hearing include:
Difficulty understanding words or sounds
Pain in the ear
Discharge from the ear
Ear ringing
Causes of Muffled Hearing
Many conditions can cause muffled hearing. Some of the conditions include:
Sinus Infection A sinus infection occurs when the multiple cavities surrounding the nasal passages become clogged. If accompanied by fever, it may need to be treated with antibiotics. In other cases, it will resolve itself without the assistance of a doctor. A sinus infection affects the cavities of the face and head and can cause headaches, coughing, and muffled hearing. Muffled hearing caused by a sinus infection will resolve once the sinus infection is treated or goes away.
Earwax Buildup Earwax is a wonderfully helpful tool, as it can block the ear from building up dirt and debris. However, sometimes earwax can begin to build up in the ear canal and this can cause muffled hearing in the ear where the buildup occurs. Other symptoms may include pressure or pain in the ear. A doctor may perform an irrigation of the ear canal if earwax buildup occurs.
Presbycusis-Hearing Loss Due to Age Sometimes, as we age, our hearing can weaken. Presbycusis is a term for the loss of hearing high-pitched sounds. This can affect hearing alarms, phones, and high-pitched voices. Hearing aids can be used to correct this type of hearing loss.
Ear Infection An ear infection can contribute to muffled hearing. This occurs when there is swelling in the eustachian tube. This type of infection can usually be cleared up by using antibiotics, but sometimes, ear infections go away on their own. Ear infections can be viral or bacterial. Some other symptoms of ear infections include pain, drainage from the ear, and fever. Left untreated, an ear infection can persist and cause permanent hearing loss.
Allergies Seasonal allergies can contribute to muffled hearing. Other allergy symptoms include sneezing, coughing, runny nose, postnasal drip, and watery eyes. Allergies can be treated with antihistamines or allergy shots.
Head Trauma Any injury to the head or brain can affect hearing. Injury to the brain can cause damage to the bones in the middle ear and this can cause muffled hearing.
Common Illnesses From the common cold to the flu to COVID-19, these common illnesses can cause inflammation of the nasal cavities and muffled hearing in one or both ears. Standard protocol for any of these illnesses will do the trick, and hearing should return to normal once the illness is cured.
Airplane Ear A leading cause of muffled hearing is airplane ears. When experiencing a change of elevation, pressure can build up in the middle ear, causing the phenomenon known as airplane ear. This can also cause pain and even bleeding from the ear. In most cases, airplane ear clears itself. In isolated cases, it causes permanent hearing loss.
Foreign Body in the Ear Canal This condition is not uncommon in children. Sometimes, something gets stuck inside the ear canal, causing muffled hearing.
Noise Damage People who have worked in loud environments for several years may experience muffled hearing. From rock bands to symphony orchestras, many individuals suffer from noise damage to the eardrums, which can cause muffled hearing.
Certain Medications Some medications, such as chemotherapy, antibiotics, and certain diuretics, can cause muffled hearing, which can be temporary or permanent.
Conclusion
Many of the conditions that cause muffled hearing can be cleared up with the help of a doctor, but some conditions cause muffled hearing that are permanent. It is important to consult with a doctor to figure out what is causing the muffled hearing.
Village Emergency Centers
If you need assistance concerning muffled hearing, stop by our facility at Village Emergency Centers. We offer the most comprehensive care at one of Texas’s most prestigious medical centers. We offer the highest quality medical care in a comfortable, well-organized setting. Whatever the need, no matter the hour, we will be there to provide medical services and help you with no wait times, friendly staff, and a very experienced medical team. We are open 24 hours a day and ready to assist you with your emergency needs.
