Get the Facts on This Common Hearing Problem
Muffled hearing is a condition in which you can perceive sound, but it comes across as dampened, distant, or indistinct — as if your ears were stuffed with cotton.
The problem can be temporary or permanent but may point to a serious underlying issue, making it important to seek an evaluation and treatment with a licensed audiologist for optimal health.
Here’s a closer look at muffled hearing, including causes, symptoms, evaluation, and treatment.
What Causes Muffled Hearing?
First, a little on how hearing works. Ears typically have an outer, middle, and inner portion that works with the brain to help you hear. After the outer portion collects and sends sound waves through the ear canal to other parts of the ear, the sound waves are ultimately amplified and turned into electrical signals for the brain to interpret into sound.
When muffled hearing occurs, the sound waves collected by the outer ear are distorted or can’t travel normally through the ear to the brain for processing. Typically, you’ll still be able to hear. The quality of the sound received, however, can be significantly reduced, which can make conversations and other communication difficult.
A number of issues can lead to muffled hearing. Here are a few:
Cerumen (Earwax) Buildup
Earwax normally works to help lubricate the ear canal; curb ear itchiness or dryness; and protect against dirt, debris, and bacteria. Older wax naturally moves out of the ear over time, but excess buildup can occur and create a blockage.
Safe earwax removal is often possible at home with professionally recommended over-the-counter products. But be sure to never place objects in your ear. If the earwax buildup is persistent or if there’s pain, infection, or a potential perforated eardrum, seek professional care.
Ear Infection
Inflammation and fluid buildup from otitis media or middle ear infection, which primarily affects children, can be a source of muffled hearing. Some ear infections may self-resolve and simply require pain management as they clear up. Persistent infection or pain, however, should be addressed by a licensed professional.
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
Colds, allergies, and sinus infections can disrupt the eustachian tube, which runs between the middle ear and throat. This tube equalizes pressure in the middle ear and helps it drain. If the tube is swollen or blocked with excess fluid, however, this can create the sensation of muffled hearing. Addressing the infection or other conditions may resolve the blockage for restored sound clarity.
Altitude Changes
Speaking of the eustachian tube: When flying, you may have experienced a rapid shift in air pressure that can block the tube from functioning properly. Your ears might feel full or plugged, with sounds immediately becoming difficult to hear or understand.
Often this will self-resolve in mere moments. Potential other steps may involve:
- Taking an OTC decongestant or nasal spray as needed approximately an hour before descent to help reduce ear-popping (first check with your doctor)
- Yawning, swallowing, or chewing gum before plane takeoff and descent, helping the eustachian tube equalize middle-ear pressure
- Performing the Valsalva maneuver by taking a deep breath, holding the nose, and, with your mouth closed, trying to gently exhale through the nose (as long as there’s no sinus infection) to help ease in-ear pressure
In some cases, however, the better route may be to put off air travel during intense allergies or congestion to help reduce the risk of injury to the eardrums or middle-ear systems.
Ménière’s Disease
This inner-ear disorder can lead to vertigo, severe dizziness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears or head), a sensation of full or blocked ears, and hearing loss. It also can affect your sense of balance. It’s unclear the exact causes of Ménière’s disease, but excess inner-ear fluid is a suspected factor. It’s important to seek a professional evaluation for accurate diagnosis and symptom management.
Water or Foreign Objects in the Ear
Whether water, cotton swabs, or some other item, materials not typically in the ear can become trapped in the ear canal, plugging the ear and blocking sound. Foreign objects lodged in the ear can also cause infection and injury. Angling the head to the side can help discharge water, but expert medical attention is a must in the case of foreign objects stuck in the ear.
Hearing Loss
Both age- and noise-related hearing loss may cause sounds to seem filtered or dampened. Muffled sounds are also a potential symptom of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, which can potentially self-resolve but often requires immediate professional treatment within a quick window of time for a successful outcome. Most hearing loss can be effectively managed with hearing aids.
What Are Symptoms of Muffled Hearing?
Signs and symptoms of muffled hearing may vary per individual, depending on severity and underlying cause. Some may experience fullness in the ear or a sense of dampened or subdued sounds. Others may also encounter ringing or buzzing in the ears, dizziness, imbalance, or trouble understanding what others are saying.
Additional potential symptoms may include:
- Fluid drainage from the ear
- Sensitivity to loud sounds
- Unilateral (single ear) hearing loss
- Sensation of echoing sounds
How Is Muffled Hearing Diagnosed?
Diagnosing muffled hearing typically begins with a comprehensive audiology appointment. A licensed audiologist will take a detailed medical history, discuss your specific symptoms, and conduct a physical exam of the ear, which can help rule out other medical conditions.
The audiologist may also perform a hearing test. In addition, if a condition such as an ear infection, head injury, or other medical problem is suspected, the hearing care professional may refer you to an applicable specialist.
What Are the Treatments for Muffled Hearing?
Like potential symptoms, treatment for muffled hearing may differ from person to person, often depending on the underlying cause. If the problem involves an ear infection, for example, treatment of the infection may address the hearing difficulty. In other cases, resolving the muffled-hearing symptoms may simply require a professional ear-cleaning.
Muffled hearing stemming from age- and noise-related hearing loss, however, may call for a more comprehensive approach, such as personalized hearing technology solutions and aural rehabilitation. Based on the diagnostic evaluation, the audiologist can determine the most appropriate treatment for your individual needs.
If you or a loved one is experiencing muffled hearing, don’t wait. Early intervention can help identify the underlying cause, prevent further complications, and bring back clarity in your hearing. Book your hearing evaluation with the expert team at Worth Hearing Center today!