Clogged Ears? Experts Explain Why It Happens and How to Get Fast Relief
Plus find out why you should ditch the Q-tips
Our ears play a vital role in everything from helping us complete important tasks to enjoying life’s little pleasures. Maybe you struggled to hear a funny line in a sitcom because a character’s voice suddenly sounded muffled. Or perhaps you were listening to your favorite song and noticed you couldn’t fully hear “your part.” It turns out a clogged ear may be to blame. We spoke to experts to find out why this happens and what you can do to get relief.
Why does my ear feel clogged?
If you’re dealing with a clogged ear and notice muffled hearing, our experts say one (or more) of these four common culprits may be to blame:
Earwax buildup
Although the ear is self-cleaning, people with dermatitis, eczema, dry skin or even just an ear canal that is more narrow, are more prone to wax buildup, says Ana H Kim, MD, Professor and Vice Chair of Education and Chief of Otology/Neurotology & Skull Base Surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Woman's World Answers
And when earwax (also known as cerumen) builds up, it can become impacted and dampen your hearing. One of the most common reasons? Using cotton swabs, “which push the earwax further into the ear canal and can also cause damage to the delicate canal skin,” continues Dr. Kim.
Outer ear infection
The outer ear’s skin acts as a protective barrier against germs. But when there is damage to this layer, bacteria or fungus can grow excessively, leading to an outer infection and what feels like a clogged ear, says Dr. Kim.
Middle ear infection (fluid buildup)
When fluid builds up behind the eardrum, it can lead to a middle ear infection. This can be caused by a sinus infection, cold or having non-infected fluid build-up in the middle ear. In addition to muffled hearing, you may also have a sensation of fullness in your ear or even feel as if you’re under water, says Dr. Kim.
Hearing loss
Sometimes, what feels like a clogged ear could actually be hearing loss. “Mild hearing loss outside of conversation-range can be mistaken for clogged ears, when in reality it is hearing loss,” says Dr. Kim.
How to treat a clogged ear at home
Seeing an ENT, audiologist or other medical provider is the best way to determine the underlying cause of your clogged ears. In the meantime, there are a few strategies you can try at home to help restore your hearing.
Here’s what Rupa Rao, Audiologist at HearUSA based in Dublin, Ohio, recommends:
- Swallowing, yawning or chewing gum, all of which help open the eustachian tube—a small tube that connects to your middle ear and helps relieve pressure.
- Performing the Valsalva maneuver, “which involves pinching your nose and closing your mouth, then gently exhaling to equalize pressure in your ears,” Rao says. You can see a how-to video here.
- Taking a hot shower or sitting in a steam room, which can help soften earwax as the steam enters your ear.
- Using a saline nasal spray. Since your sinuses are connected to your ears and throat, congestion can make your ears feel clogged. The salt in saline solution helps reduce swelling in your ear’s passage, relieving pressure.
- Applying a warm compress to a clogged ear for five to 10 minutes can help relax the muscles around the ear canal, soften earwax and promote drainage in the ear passage.
- Trying over-the-counter decongestants. Sinus inflammation can put pressure on your ears, making them feel clogged. Using a decongestant can help open your nasal passage and reduce swelling in your ear’s drainage tube.
How to get rid of excess earwax causing a clogged ear
“If earwax is the culprit, you can try over-the-counter cerumen removal drops like Debrox or Murine, or apply a few drops of warm mineral oil or hydrogen peroxide mixed with water,” Rao continues.
Rao says cerumen removal drops have detailed instructions that you can follow, but generally, you’ll want to tilt your affected ear upward and gently squeeze the recommended number of drops into the ear canal.
“It is recommended to stay in the position for the duration specified in the instructions to allow the drops to do their job,” Rao adds.
What if a skin condition is to blame?
If your clogged ears ultimately connect back to a skin condition such as dermatitis or eczema, “a doctor-prescribed regimen of steroid cream or drops depending on which part of the canal is involved” could help, says Dr. Kim.
When to worry about a clogged ear
While a clogged ear is usually harmless, some symptoms may indicate a more serious condition that requires medical attention.
“One condition that is time-sensitive is sudden hearing loss,” says Dr. Kim. “This can happen without any preceding illness or event, or with an ear infection or upper respiratory infection. The outer and middle ear exam is normal, but the hearing loss is thought to be due to inner ear inflammation. This requires early intervention—the sooner the better—with a steroid, which is a potent anti-inflammatory agent, before permanent damage is done to the inner ear.”
Dr. Kim also shares that if you experience a clogged ear along with symptoms like ear pain, drainage, a constant buzzing noise or feeling dizzy, it could signal a more serious medical condition. One potential cause: Ménière’s disease, an inner ear disorder that triggers dizziness, tinnitus, hearing loss and the feeling of a full or clogged ear, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
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