(Newswire.net — December 15, 2020) —
If you’ve noticed you’re having to turn up the sound on the TV more often, or you’re straining to hear conversations you might be suffering from muffled hearing. While some cases are minor and will often resolve themselves, there are some instances where muffled hearing may require medical attention.
What is muffled hearing?
Muffled hearing occurs when sound waves have trouble passing through the inner ear.It can feel like you have cotton balls in your ear, or you may have a sensation that’s similar to the pressure you feel when flying. You may not have complete hearing loss, but you may strain to hear others clearly. In the US, hearing loss affects around 10.6 percent of the population – so, you’re not alone.
What are the symptoms of muffled hearing?
If you think you’re suffering from muffled hearing, you may have experienced some of these symptoms:
- Pain in the ear: This could be persistent or intermittent, and you may also experience heat from your ears suggesting an infection.
- Discharge from the ear: Pus or other drainage coming from your ears is usually associated with a bacterial buildup.
- A feeling of being underwater: When the ear canals are blocked it can affect your balance and can make you feel like you’re hearing underwater.
- Ringing in the ear: Ringing happens when loud noise damages the very fine hair cells that line your ear. Often tinnitus is temporary, however prolonged exposure to loud noise could lead to irreparable damage.
What causes muffled hearing?
Muffled hearing in one ear can be a symptom of many conditions, with the most common being as a result of:
- Earwax buildup: A buildup of earwax in the ear canal can lead to muffled hearing in one or both ears.
- Presbycusis: This refers to the gradual age-related hearing loss of high-pitched sounds. And can cause trouble hearing when there’s background noise.
- Infection: Ear and sinus infections can cause muffled hearing. Because of swelling and inflammation, fluid is unable to drain. Mild infections will often clear up on their own, but more severe ones, if left untreated can lead to lasting hearing damage.
When to seek a specialist?
If your hearing is still muffled after a few weeks and over the counter medication hasn’t helped, it might be time to seek a specialist. It could be that you require surgery to repair a hole from a perforated eardrum, or you may need the assistance of a company like Phonak, who can assess whether you need a hearing aid.