There are a large number of reasons for muffled hearing. In most instances, this condition is temporary. But muffled hearing can also be a sign that a more serious hearing problem is happening. That’s because, for the most part, hearing loss is a gradually progressing condition. Symptoms build slowly and over time.
One of the first symptoms of gradually developing long-term hearing loss is the feeling that your hearing is muffled. However, it’s important to point out that muffled hearing in and of itself isn’t always a sign of long-term hearing loss. Every year millions of people experience muffled hearing.
Maybe you’re wondering if you should be worried about your muffled hearing. Generally, the answer tends to vary. Finding the best treatment for your muffled hearing depends on understanding the underlying cause. Additional damage can be prevented and your hearing can get back to normal with some prompt solutions. You will be able to go back to enjoying the sounds of your life after you get us to assist you with some successful treatments.
Muffled Hearing – what exactly is it?
Muffled hearing happens when sound is not able to move through your outer, middle, and inner ear in the way that it usually does. A very noticeable decline in sound fidelity is the result. Hearing won’t be totally gone with muffled hearing but things will sound distorted and quieter. Hearing speech and language can be especially challenging.
Your ears will frequently also feel plugged up when your hearing is muffled. Lots of people have experienced this feeling temporarily, for instance, when they have a cold or when they are taking a flight. This clogged feeling, however, doesn’t always come with muffled hearing.
Causes of muffled hearing
Muffled hearing can be caused by a wide variety of problems. In order to formulate the appropriate course of treatment, it’s important to determine the root cause. Here are several of the most common causes:
- Sensorineural hearing loss: Hearing loss caused by noise damage can sometimes bring about muffled hearing. This kind of hearing loss is, regrettably, generally irreversible. Muffled hearing is often one of the first noticeable symptoms; but damage to your stereocilia has likely already happened by the time you notice the distorted sounds. You should seek out treatment rapidly to avoid your hearing getting considerably worse quickly.
- Hearing loss associated with age: Most people will experience decreasing hearing as they age. Obviously, when you’re 80 all of your senses will be less sharp than when you were 18. This natural decline in your hearing ability can cause muffled hearing over time.
- Earwax buildup: Earwax is usually a helpful thing. The health of your ear canal depends on the production of earwax. However, excessive earwax can eventually cause muffled hearing (or even loss of hearing). Try a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide in your ear to loosen things up. Never try to free stuck earwax by using a cotton swab which will only pack the wax further up into the ear canal. If the problem persists, come in and talk to us.
- Travel: The changing air pressure associated with air travel can frequently cause a feeling of fullness in the ear, accompanied by muffled hearing. Your hearing will go back to normal relatively quickly once your physical conditions return to normal.
- Meniere’s Disease: Meniere’s Disease is a long-term balance and hearing problem. Over time, this disease can cause tinnitus, loss of hearing (frequently beginning with muffled hearing), and dizziness or loss of balance. There’s no cure for Meniere’s Disease, but symptoms can be managed.
- 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 especially true with ear infections). This will diminish your hearing ability by causing the ear canal to swell shut. Muffled hearing symptoms caused by infections will usually clear up once the root illness has been dealt with.
Depending on the underlying cause, the exact symptoms of muffled hearing will differ.
Can muffled hearing be cured?
Not all forms of muffled hearing have a cure. The treatment for your muffled hearing will change depending on the root cause. We might use some special tools to help clean out your ear canal if, for instance, earwax buildup is at the root of your muffled hearing. Muffled hearing caused by an ear infection will likely clear up once the infection has been treated, so antibiotics are usually prescribed.
When it comes to sensorineural hearing loss, the emphasis changes to symptom management as opposed to a complete cure. That’s because sensorineural hearing loss can’t be cured. However, symptoms can be controlled. This might take several forms, but the most prevalent is the use of a set of hearing aids in order to bring clarity to what you hear.
Hearing aids can help you remain connected to loved ones and tackle your day-to-day activities without a substantially noticeable effect, especially when this process is initiated promptly.
How to avoid muffled hearing in the first place
No matter what you do, certain kinds of muffled hearing can’t be avoided. Infections, for instance, can’t always be avoided.
Getting your hearing examined, however, can help identify any causes of muffled hearing and can help avoid any long-term hearing loss that might be developing. Call us for an appointment right away.
