Muffled hearing can present for a large number of reasons. In the majority of cases, this situation is temporary. In other instances, muffled hearing can be a precursor of more substantial hearing-related problems. Partly, that’s because, aside from sudden hearing loss, hearing loss is generally not a condition that progresses suddenly. Symptoms show up slowly over a long period of time.
In many cases, one of the first noticeable symptoms is a sense that sounds feel muffled, distorted, or quieter. However, it’s essential to point out that muffled hearing in and of itself is not always a sign of long-term hearing loss. Indeed, millions of people experience muffled hearing each year.
Perhaps you’re wondering if you should be worried about your muffled hearing. The answer depends on several factors. Understanding the root cause of your muffled hearing is critical to finding the best treatment strategy. Prompt solutions can sometimes help get your hearing back to normal, or, at least reduce possible damage. Calling us for a consultation can help you start this process, often resulting in successful treatments, so you can keep enjoying the sounds of your day-to-day life.
What is muffled hearing?
Muffled hearing takes place when sound is not able to travel through your outer, middle, and inner ear in the way that it normally does. This leads to a noticeable drop in sound quality. In most cases, people with muffled hearing can still hear some or even most things, but things sound quieter or jumbled. This may especially impact your ability to discern and understand voices and spoken language.
In many cases, and depending on the root cause, muffled hearing can be accompanied by a sense of fullness or stuffiness in your ears. Lots of individuals have experienced this feeling temporarily, for instance, when they have a cold or when they are flying. This clogged feeling, however, doesn’t always come with muffled hearing.
What causes muffled hearing?
There are lots of possible causes of muffled hearing. In order to formulate the appropriate course of treatment, it’s essential to figure out the root cause. Some of the most common causes of muffled hearing include the following:
- Travel: Altitude changes, like when you’re on a plane, can cause a feeling of muffled ears. In most cases, this feeling will go away quickly and your hearing will go back to normal.
- Infection: In some cases, problems such as infections (such as sinus infections or ear infections) can result in swelling in the ear canal (this is particularly true with ear infections). This inflammation can cause your ear canal to be completely blocked, effectively decreasing your ability to hear. Once the underlying infection goes away, any inflammation it caused should also clear.
- Meniere’s Disease: Meniere’s Disease is a chronic balance and hearing problem. Over time, this disease can trigger tinnitus, loss of hearing (frequently beginning with muffled hearing), and dizziness or loss of balance. The symptoms of Menier’s disease can be treated but not cured.
- Sensorineural hearing loss: Hearing loss caused by noise damage can sometimes cause muffled hearing. This type of hearing loss is, regrettably, normally permanent. Muffled hearing is often one of the first detectable symptoms; but by the time you notice the distorted sounds, damage to your stereocilia has likely already occurred. If you don’t seek out treatment quickly, your hearing will rapidly get worse.
- Age-associated hearing loss: Most individuals will experience decreasing hearing as they get older. Obviously, when you’re 80 all of your senses will be less acute than when you were 18. This natural diminishing in your ability to hear can cause muffled hearing over time.
- Earwax buildup: Usually, earwax is a good thing. The health of your ear canal depends on the production of earwax. However, excessive earwax can ultimately cause muffled hearing (or even hearing loss). This earwax can usually be loosened up by utilizing a couple of 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 issue persists.
Depending on the root cause, the exact symptoms of muffled hearing will differ.
Is there a cure for muffled hearing?
Some types of muffled hearing can’t be cured. The treatment for your muffled hearing will change depending on the root cause. For instance, if excess earwax buildup is the principal cause, we may use specific tools to help you clear out your ear canal. Antibiotics are usually prescribed if your muffled hearing is being caused by an infection.
Symptom management is usually the strategy when you’re dealing with sensorineural hearing loss as opposed to a cure. That’s because there’s no cure for sensorineural hearing loss. However, symptoms can be controlled. There may be several approaches to this treatment including a set of hearing aids.
With hearing aids, you can keep enjoying your daily activities without hearing loss impacting your quality of life.
How to avoid muffled hearing in the first place
Some forms of muffled hearing are difficult to avoid, no matter what. For example, ear infections and sinus infections are hard to reliably avoid.
However, in most cases, routine hearing tests can help you avoid many of the causes of muffled hearing and detect any permanent hearing loss early. Contact us for an appointment right away.