There are a wide variety of reasons for muffled hearing. In the majority of instances, this situation is temporary. In other instances, muffled hearing can be a harbinger of more serious hearing-related problems. That’s because, in general, hearing loss is a gradually developing condition. Symptoms build gradually and over time.
In many cases, one of the first noticeable symptoms is a sense that sounds feel muffled, distorted, or quieter. However, it’s important to mention that muffled hearing in and of itself is not always an indication of permanent hearing loss. Indeed, millions of individuals experience muffled hearing each year.
You might be wondering: when should I be concerned about muffled hearing? The answer depends on various factors. Recognizing the root cause of your muffled hearing is essential to finding the correct treatment approach. Additional damage can be prevented and your hearing can get back to normal with some prompt solutions. You will be able to get back to enjoying the sounds of your life after you get us to assist 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. A very noticeable decline in sound quality is the outcome. In the majority of cases, people with muffled hearing can still hear some or even most things, but things sound quieter or jumbled. Hearing speech and language can be especially challenging.
Your ears will often also feel plugged up when your hearing is muffled. Sometimes, when you’re on a plane or suffering from a cold you might experience this feeling. Muffled hearing is not always combined with this feeling, however.
What causes muffled hearing?
There are a lot of potential causes of muffled hearing. In order to develop the correct course of treatment, it’s important to establish the root cause. Here are some of the most prevalent causes:
- Sensorineural hearing loss: Hearing loss which results from noise damage can sometimes cause muffled hearing. Unfortunately, this form of hearing loss is normally irreversible. One of the earliest recognizable symptoms is muffled hearing; but damage to your stereocilia has usually already occurred by the time you detect the distorted sounds. You should find treatment rapidly to avoid your hearing growing significantly worse quickly.
- 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 hearing loss). This earwax can typically be loosened up by using a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide. Do not make use of a cotton swab to try to free the earwax, as cotton swabs can compact your earwax and make the issue worse. We can help if the problem persists.
- Hearing loss related to age: As you age, your hearing can decline due to natural causes. Needless to say, when you’re 80 all of your senses will be less acute than when you were 18. This normal diminishing in your hearing ability can cause muffled hearing over time.
- Infection: Inflammation of the ear canal will often accompany problems like ear infections or sinus infections. This will diminish your ability to hear by causing the ear canal to swell shut. Once the base infection goes away, any swelling it caused should also clear.
- Travel: Altitude changes, like when you’re on a plane, can lead to a feeling of muffled ears. In most instances, this feeling will pass quickly and your normal hearing will be restored.
- Meniere’s Disease: Meniere’s Disease is a long-term balance and hearing problem. Dizziness, balance issues, tinnitus, and muffled ears will develop over time because of this disease. The symptoms of Menier’s disease can be treated but not cured.
The precise symptoms of muffled hearing will vary depending on the base cause.
Can muffled hearing be cured?
Not all forms of muffled hearing have a cure. The underlying cause of your muffled hearing will determine the treatment strategy. For instance, if excessive earwax buildup is the primary 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 managed, so antibiotics are usually prescribed.
When it comes to sensorineural hearing loss, the emphasis changes to symptom management rather than a total cure. That’s because there’s no cure for sensorineural hearing loss. But it is possible to control symptoms. This might take several forms, but the most common is using a set of hearing aids in order to bring clarity to what you hear.
Hearing aids can help you stay connected to loved ones and go about your daily activities without a substantially noticeable impact, particularly when this process is initiated promptly.
How to steer clear of muffled hearing in the first place
No matter what you do, some forms of muffled hearing can’t be prevented. For example, ear infections and sinus infections are hard to easily avoid.
However, in most cases, regular hearing tests can help you steer clear of many of the causes of muffled hearing and detect any permanent hearing loss early. These checkups can help you stay on top of your hearing health and get treatment quickly.
