There are a large number of reasons for muffled hearing. In the majority of cases, this condition is short-term. 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 slowly progressing condition. Symptoms progress slowly and over time.
Typically, one of the first noticeable symptoms is a sense that sounds feel muffled, distorted, or quieter. Muffled hearing, however, isn’t always an indication that you are developing long-term hearing loss. Every year millions of individuals experience muffled hearing.
Perhaps you’re wondering if you should be worried about your muffled hearing. Generally, the answer tends to vary. Understanding the root cause of your muffled hearing is crucial to finding the correct treatment strategy. Additional damage can be avoided 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 help you with some successful treatments.
What is muffled hearing?
When sound can’t travel through your outer, middle, and inner ear in a normal way, your hearing can sound muffled. This leads to a noticeable decrease in sound quality. In the majority of instances, those with muffled hearing can still hear some or even most things, but things sound quieter or jumbled. Discerning speech and language can be particularly difficult.
Your ears will frequently also feel plugged up when your hearing is muffled. Lots of individuals have experienced this feeling temporarily, for example, when they have a cold or are flying. This clogged feeling, however, doesn’t always come with muffled hearing.
Causes of muffled hearing
Muffled hearing can be caused by all kinds of problems. In order to establish the suitable course of treatment, it’s important to figure out the root cause. Here are some of the most prevalent causes:
- Meniere’s Disease: When you have Menier’s Disease, you suffer from chronic hearing and balance problems. Dizziness, balance issues, tinnitus, and muffled ears will manifest over time as a result of this disease. There’s no cure for Meniere’s Disease, but symptoms can be treated.
- Earwax buildup: Earwax is usually a helpful thing. It helps keep your ear canal healthy. 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 the wax up. Do not use a cotton swab to attempt to dislodge the earwax, as cotton swabs can condense your earwax and make the problem worse. If the issue continues, come in and see us.
- Travel: The changing altitude associated with air travel can often cause a feeling of fullness in the ear, accompanied by muffled hearing. Your hearing will go back to normal rather quickly once your physical conditions return to normal.
- Sensorineural hearing loss: Hearing loss caused by noise-related damage can sometimes bring about muffled hearing. This kind of hearing loss is, regrettably, usually irreversible. Muffled hearing is frequently one of the earliest detectable symptoms; but by the time you notice the distorted sounds, damage to your stereocilia has probably already happened. You should find treatment promptly to avoid your hearing getting considerably worse quickly.
- Infection: Swelling of the ear canal will frequently accompany problems such as ear infections or sinus infections. This swelling can cause your ear canal to swell shut, effectively diminishing your ability to hear. Once the base infection clears, any swelling it caused should also clear.
- Age-associated hearing loss: Most individuals will experience diminishing hearing as they get older. Needless to say, when you’re 80 all of your senses will be less sharp than when you were 18. Over time, muffled hearing can be the consequence of this normal decline of your ability to hear.
Depending on the root cause, the precise symptoms of muffled hearing will differ.
Is there a cure for muffled hearing?
Not all forms of muffled hearing can be cured. The base cause of your muffled hearing will establish the treatment method. We may use some specialized tools to help clear out your ear canal if, for example, earwax buildup is at the root of your muffled hearing. Muffled hearing caused by an ear infection will typically clear up once the infection has been managed, so antibiotics are often prescribed.
In terms of sensorineural hearing loss, the focus changes to symptom management instead of a complete cure. That’s because sensorineural hearing loss can’t be cured. However, symptoms can be managed. There might be numerous strategies to this treatment including a set of hearing aids.
With hearing aids, you can keep enjoying your daily activities without hearing loss effecting your quality of life.
Avoiding muffled hearing
No matter what you do, certain forms of muffled hearing can’t be prevented. Infections, for instance, can’t always be avoided.
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. Call us for an appointment right away.