What Is Muffled Hearing?
Muffled hearing is when there is difficulty in sound waves passing through the inner ear, and it feels like a cotton ball is placed inside the ear. The sensation is similar to the pressure inside the ear while flying in an airplane. The patient will not have complete hearing loss but may have to strain to hear things clearly. Different factors can be responsible for muffled hearing; some are minor and resolve quickly, while others might require medical attention to protect the hearing.
What Are the Symptoms of Muffled Hearing?
Muffled hearing is not just the feeling of something in the ear; there are other symptoms as well, such as:
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Pain in the ear.
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A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear.
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Discharge from the ear.
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Ringing sound in the ear.
What Are the Causes of Muffled Hearing in One Ear?
Muffled hearing in one ear can be caused by many conditions, such as:
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Earwax Build-Up - Ear wax protects the ear canal from debris and other foreign particles entering them. It also acts as a lubricant for the ear. However, sometimes it can get impacted and cause build-up in one or both ears. In most cases, the earwax build-up is minor and, in severe cases, can lead to muffled hearing.
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Presbycusis - This is a gradual age-related hearing loss of high-pitched sounds. Someone with this type of muffled hearing will find it difficult to hear a phone ringing. Hearing loss can range from mild to severe. The other symptoms include trouble hearing in crowded places, ringing in the ear, and difficulty hearing a woman's voice.
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Middle Ear Infection - A middle ear infection can be caused by a virus or a bacteria and occurs when fluid accumulates in the middle ear due to swelling or inflammation in the eustachian tube. The eustachian tube usually allows the drainage of fluid from the middle ear. Some middle ear infections are mild and resolve on their own, but severe cases need medical attention otherwise can impair hearing. Middle ear infections can cause ear pain and discharge.
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Common Cold - A common cold can also cause muffled hearing by causing congestion blocking the eustachian tube.
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Airplane Ear - An airplane ear is when there is an imbalance in the air pressure in the middle ear and the surrounding air. This can happen when one is flying an airplane, in an elevator, or climbing up a mountain.
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Eardrum Perforation - A ruptured eardrum or a perforated eardrum is when there is a hole or tear in the eardrum and can cause muffled hearing.
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Tumor - An acoustic neuroma is a benign growth on the main nerve that leads from the inner ear to the brain. A muffled hearing can also be a sign of a tumor. A lump in the neck, as in the case of nasopharyngeal cancer, develops in the upper part of the throat and can cause muffled hearing, ringing in the ear, and pain in the ear.
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Meniere’s Disease - This is a disease affecting the inner ear and can cause a variety of symptoms, such as muffled hearing, tinnitus, vertigo, and pain in the ear.
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Certain Medications - Some medicines can affect the nerves of the inner ear and can cause muffled hearing, like loop diuretics, antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and anti-inflammatory drugs. The hearing loss can range from mild to severe and other symptoms associated are vertigo, tinnitus, and fullness in the ear.
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Brain Injury or Head Trauma - In some cases of brain or head injury, the patients can have muffled hearing.
What Is the Treatment for Muffled Hearing?
The treatment for muffled hearing will depend upon the cause of this condition. The common treatment option for muffled hearing are:
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Removal of Blockage - If the muffled ear is caused by a blockage, then the removal of the blockage can resolve the muffled hearing. The earwax blockage can be removed at home using an earwax removal kit to soften the earwax and then flush it out, or it can be removed by a doctor.
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Antibiotics - Antibiotics may be prescribed in case of a sinus infection or middle ear infection, which causes ear congestion and muffled hearing.
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Nasal Decongestant - A decongestant will help to release pressure by constricting the blood vessels and reducing swelling. This medication is also useful for airplane ears.
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Surgery - A perforated eardrum or a ruptured eardrum needs to be corrected surgically if it does not heal on its own. Surgery is also an option for cases of tumors that affect the inner ear. In the case of a benign tumor, a doctor will suggest surgery only if the size of the tumor increases. In case of a malignant tumor along with surgery, the doctor might suggest radiation and chemotherapy before surgical removal of the tumor.
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Hearing Aids - In some cases, the muffled hearing does not improve, like in the case of Meniere's disease, age-related hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss, and hearing loss due to head injury. If the hearing loss is permanent, then the doctor might advise the use of a hearing aid that will amplify the sound and is placed behind the ear.
Conclusion:
A muffled hearing can be caused by something as simple as a common cold, hay fever, to serious conditions like tumors and head injury. In case anyone knows who suffers from any of these symptoms, it should be taken seriously, and should consult a doctor to arrive at a diagnosis as early as possible. The treatment received at the right time can prevent most of the complications and can prevent the condition from worsening.
