There are a wide variety of reasons for muffled hearing. In most cases, this situation is short-term. In other instances, muffled hearing can be a harbinger of more serious hearing-related problems. Partly, that’s because, outside of sudden hearing loss, hearing loss is typically not a condition that develops suddenly. Symptoms build slowly and over time.
Often, one of the first noticeable symptoms is a sense that sounds feel muffled, distorted, or quieter. Muffled hearing, however, isn’t necessarily an indication that you are developing long-term hearing loss. Every year millions of individuals experience muffled hearing.
Maybe you’re wondering if you should be worried about your muffled hearing. The answer depends on several factors. Finding the correct treatment for your muffled hearing depends on recognizing the root cause. Additional damage can be prevented and your hearing can get back to normal with some quick solutions. You will be able to go 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?
When sound can’t travel through your outer, middle, and inner ear in a normal way, your hearing can sound muffled. A very noticeable decrease in sound quality is the outcome. Hearing won’t be entirely gone with muffled hearing but things will sound distorted and quieter. Discerning speech and language can be particularly challenging.
Your ears will often also feel clogged up when your hearing is muffled. Sometimes, when you’re taking a flight or suffering from a cold you may experience this feeling. 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 issues. Figuring out the underlying cause of your muffled hearing can be essential in developing an effective treatment plan. Some of the most common causes of muffled hearing include the following:
- Infection: Sometimes, issues like infections (such as sinus infections or ear infections) can cause swelling in the ear canal (this is especially true with ear infections). This will decrease your ability to hear by causing the ear canal to swell shut. Once the root infection clears, any swelling it caused should also clear.
- Earwax buildup: Usually, earwax is a positive thing. It helps keep your ear canal healthy. But muffled hearing (and in some circumstances even hearing loss) can be the consequence of excess earwax. 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 pack the wax further up into the ear canal. We can help if the issue continues.
- Sensorineural hearing loss: Hearing loss caused by noise damage can sometimes bring about muffled hearing. This form of hearing loss is, sadly, generally permanent. Muffled hearing is frequently one of the very first detectable symptoms; but damage to your stereocilia has usually already occurred by the time you detect the distorted sounds. If you don’t seek out treatment quickly, your hearing will rapidly get worse.
- Meniere’s Disease: When you have Menier’s Disease, you suffer from chronic hearing and balance issues. Dizziness, balance issues, tinnitus, and muffled ears will develop over time due to this disease. The symptoms of Menier’s disease can be treated but not cured.
- Travel: Altitude changes, like when you’re on a plane, can cause a feeling of muffled ears. In most instances, this feeling will go away quickly and your hearing will go back to normal.
- Age-associated hearing loss: Most individuals will experience decreasing hearing as they age. After all, there are few senses as acute when you are 80 as when you are 18. Over time, muffled hearing can be the result of this normal diminishing of your ability to hear.
Depending on the root cause, the exact symptoms of muffled hearing will vary.
Can muffled hearing be cured?
Not all forms of muffled hearing have a cure. The root cause of your muffled hearing will determine the treatment method. For example, if excess earwax buildup is the principal cause, we might use specific tools to help you clear out your ear canal. Muffled hearing caused by an ear infection will typically clear up once the infection has been treated, so antibiotics are frequently prescribed.
In terms of sensorineural hearing loss, the focus changes to symptom management as opposed to a total cure. That’s because sensorineural hearing loss can’t be reversed. However, symptoms can be controlled. There might be several strategies to this treatment including a pair of hearing aids.
With hearing aids, you can keep enjoying your day-to-day activities without hearing loss impacting your quality of life.
How to steer clear of muffled hearing in the first place
Some types of muffled hearing are difficult to avoid, no matter what. Infections, for instance, can’t always be avoided.
However, in most instances, routine hearing tests can help you avoid many of the causes of muffled hearing and identify any permanent hearing loss early. These examinations can help you stay on top of your hearing health and get treatment promptly.
