Muffled hearing can present for lots of reasons. For the majority of individuals, it’s a short-term situation. In other cases, muffled hearing can be a precursor of more substantial hearing-related problems. That’s because, in general, hearing loss is a slowly developing condition. Symptoms build slowly and over time.
One of the earliest symptoms of gradually progressing long-term hearing loss is the feeling that your hearing is muffled. Muffled hearing, however, isn’t necessarily a sign that you are developing permanent hearing loss. Indeed, millions of people experience muffled hearing each year.
You may be wondering: when should I be concerned about muffled hearing? The answer depends on several factors. Understanding the root cause of your muffled hearing is essential to finding the right treatment approach. Prompt solutions can in some cases help get your hearing back to normal, or, at least minimize possible damage. You will be able to get back to enjoying the sounds of your life after you get us to help you with some successful treatments.
Muffled Hearing – what exactly is it?
Muffled hearing happens when sound is unable to travel through your outer, middle, and inner ear in the way that it usually does. A rather noticeable reduction in sound quality is the result. In the majority of cases, those with muffled hearing can still hear some or even most things, but everything sounds quieter or distorted. Hearing speech and language can be particularly tough.
In many instances, and depending on the root cause, muffled hearing can be associated with a sense of fullness or stuffiness in your ears. Many people have experienced this feeling for a short time, for instance, when they have a cold or are flying. This clogged feeling, however, doesn’t always come with muffled hearing.
What causes muffled hearing?
There are a lot of possible causes of muffled hearing. Identifying the underlying cause of your muffled hearing can be significant in developing an effective treatment plan. Some of the most common causes of muffled hearing include the following:
- Sensorineural hearing loss: Hearing loss caused by noise damage can sometimes bring about muffled hearing. Sadly, this kind of hearing loss is normally irreversible. Muffled hearing is often one of the first detectable symptoms; but damage to your stereocilia has usually already happened by the time you detect the distorted sounds. If you don’t seek out treatment quickly, your hearing will rapidly get worse.
- Earwax buildup: Usually, earwax is a positive thing. The health of your ear canal depends on the production of earwax. But muffled hearing (and in some cases even hearing loss) can be the consequence of too much earwax. This earwax can usually be loosened up by utilizing a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. Never attempt to free stuck earwax by using a cotton swab which will only push the wax further up into the ear canal. We can help if the problem persists.
- Infection: Sometimes, issues such as infections (such as sinus infections or ear infections) can cause inflammation in the ear canal (this is particularly true with ear infections). This inflammation can cause your ear canal to be completely blocked, effectively reducing your ability to hear. Muffled hearing symptoms due to infections will normally clear up once the root illness has been treated.
- Age-related hearing loss: Most people will experience decreasing hearing as they age. After all, there are few senses as sharp when you are 80 as they were when you are 18. Over time, muffled hearing can be the consequence of this natural decline of your hearing.
- Travel: The changing altitude associated with air travel can frequently cause a plugged feeling in the ear, followed closely by muffled hearing. In most instances, this feeling will go away quickly and your normal hearing will be restored.
- Meniere’s Disease: Meniere’s Disease is a chronic balance and hearing issue. Dizziness, balance issues, tinnitus, and muffled ears will manifest over time because of this disease. The symptoms of Menier’s disease can be treated but not cured.
The exact symptoms of muffled hearing will vary depending on the base cause.
Is there a cure for muffled hearing?
Not all kinds of muffled hearing can be cured. The treatment for your muffled hearing will change depending on the underlying cause. For example, if excessive earwax buildup is the main cause, we might use specific tools to help you clean out your ear canal. Muffled hearing caused by an ear infection will usually clear up once the infection has been treated, so antibiotics are often prescribed.
When it comes to sensorineural hearing loss, the focus changes to symptom management rather than a total cure. That’s because there’s no cure for sensorineural hearing loss. However, symptoms can be controlled. There may be numerous approaches to this treatment including a pair of hearing aids.
With hearing aids, you can continue to enjoy your daily activities without hearing loss impacting your quality of life.
How to steer clear of muffled hearing in the first place
Some forms of muffled hearing are hard to avoid, no matter what. Infections, for example, can’t always be avoided.
Getting your hearing tested, however, can help identify any causes of muffled hearing and can help prevent any long-term hearing loss that may be developing. Contact us for an appointment right away.