Do you find that you need to turn up the volume on a TV, listen closer, or ask people to speak loudly? There could be many reasons for this, but one of them is muffled hearing. Some of the reasons for muffled hearing are easy to fix, but others are not. However, it all starts with getting to the bottom of what could be causing the muffled hearing.

Earwax

Earwax buildup is one of the common and easy-to-fix causes of muffled hearing. Earwax is produced to protect the ears from infection and trap dust and dirt from entering the inner ear. When you talk or chew, the wax moves from the inside to the outside of your ear, where it dries and flakes off.

When removing the wax, it's important to use effective and efficient cleaning techniques to prevent the situation from worsening. Using items like cotton swabs to remove the ear wax can push it deeper into the ear, causing wax buildup that can make it hard to hear in the affected ear.

Other factors, such as the shape of your ear canals, wearing ear plugs for long hours, and wearing hearing aids, can also cause earwax buildup.

If earwax buildup is the cause for your muffled hearing, you will also experience other symptoms such as:

  • A feeling of fullness in the ear
  • Pain
  • Itchiness
  • Discharge
  • Odour
  • Ringing

Earwax can be removed by putting a few drops of baby oil, hydrogen peroxide, or mineral oil in your ear. These can help soften the earwax and make it easier to clear it out. For excessive buildup, you can get micro-suction earwax removal, which will help dislodge and remove the earwax without causing pain or imparting the earwax.

Age

Age can also contribute to muffled hearing. A type of age-related hearing loss called presbycusis is very common in seniors, and about 1 in 3 people between 65 and 74 years old have it. The older you get, the higher your chances of suffering from the condition.

The main reason for hearing loss is that, over time, the inner ear structures start to wear down over the years. However, other causes may contribute to this condition, such as:

  • Certain medications: More than 200 medications, including certain antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and even high doses of aspirin, can cause hearing loss.
  • Medical Conditions: High blood pressure and diabetes can also interfere with the blood supply to the ear, leading to muffled hearing.
  • Noise: Long-term exposure to loud noise can also lead to muffled hearing and hearing loss.

In age-related hearing loss, the ability to hear high-frequency sounds in both ears is most common. It happens so slowly that you don't realise that your hearing is getting worse. This is why it is important to get your hearing tested as you age to ensure the hearing loss is caught early and addressed.

Airplane Ear

A sudden pressure increase in your ear caused by the airplane taking off can lead to temporary muffled hearing. The condition is called airplane ear. It happens because the pressure in your middle ear and the pressure outside are not in sync.

Despite the name, airplane ear doesn't just happen on planes. It also happens when there is something that limits the way your eustachian tube works, which is what maintains the correct pressure inside the ear. Other activities and conditions that can lead to airplane ear include:

  • Diving
  • Middle ear infection
  • Sinus infection
  • Hay fever
  • Common cold

A mild case of airplane ear can cause muffled hearing or some hearing loss. It can also cause a feeling of fullness and, in some cases, ear pain.

The ear of an airplane can be resolved by yawning, swallowing, or chewing gum. If it persists for more than a few hours or seems severe, you may need to visit a physician, who may recommend decongestant sprays, pills, antihistamines, or over-the-counter pain relievers.

Noise Damage

You may experience muffled hearing after going to a concert. If you are only exposed to the noise for a short period, the muffled hearing should clear a few hours after you change to a quiet environment. Workers or people who have been exposed to a noisy workplace for many years may notice that their hearing isn't as good after years of working in that environment. This is a good example of noise-induced hearing loss, or NHL.

NHL happens when there is a short blast of loud noise or when you’re exposed to loud noise for a long time. When you are exposed to loud noises for long periods, it can cause high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss. The sound can damage the inside structures of the ear, leading to muffled hearing and temporary and, sometimes, permanent hearing loss. Common causes of muffled hearing and hearing loss caused by noise include:

  • Single, loud noise exposure like an explosion
  • Long-time exposure to noise, such as noisy industry settings
  • Target shooting and hunting without proper ear protection
  • Going to loud concerts
  • Listening to loud music through headphones

Hearing loss cannot be treated, which is why prevention and safety are crucial. You should wear earplugs and earmuffs around loud noises, talk to your doctor, and avoid medications known to cause hearing loss.

Meniere’s Disease

This is a rare condition that can cause permanent damage to the ear. Its symptoms include muffled hearing, which leads to hearing loss, ringing in the ears, a feeling of pressure or fullness in the ears, and vertigo.

When suffering from this condition, hearing tends to come and go first. Eventually, some of the hearing loss becomes permanent. It's not yet clear what causes the disease, but the working theory is that it may be caused by a significant buildup of fluid in your inner ear. The reasons for the collection of fluid in the ear include:

  • Allergies
  • Blockage
  • Allergies
  • Viral infections
  • Head trauma.

If you exhibit these symptoms or suspect you have Meniere’s disease, it is essential to make an appointment with your doctor for testing.