Learn More About Clogged Ears & How to Prevent Them in Michigan
Dealing with clogged ears can be frustrating, uncomfortable, and downright painful. Whether your ears are clogged with excessive wax or fluid or you have an ear infection, you’re probably looking for anything to alleviate your discomfort. Understanding what causes clogged or blocked ears in the first place is a great way to prevent dealing with them in the future.
Below, the hearing care providers at Hear Michigan Centers discuss why ears get clogged, what causes it, and how you can try to prevent it from occurring again. Our team is proud to provide industry-leading care at our hearing care centers throughout Michigan. We offer comprehensive hearing care services, including custom hearing protection, hearing aids, tinnitus treatment, and much more. Contact us today to learn more and schedule an appointment with one of our hearing care professionals.
Why Are My Ears Clogged?
Ear blockages can occur for various reasons, but knowing the root cause of your clogged ears is a helpful way to prevent them in the first place. Some of the most common causes of clogged ears include the following:
- Excessive Earwax – Some people naturally produce more earwax than others, and some just have a harder time clearing the wax from their ears efficiently. If your ear is blocked with wax, you may feel like they’re full, have ear pain, hear ringing, feel dizzy, or itchy in your ears. Your hearing care provider can safely and effectively remove the wax blocking your ear canal.
- Fluid in the Ear – When the structure that connects your middle ear to the back of your throat becomes inflamed, fluid typically drains and can clog your ear.Some patients experience pain, hearing loss, and, eventually, permanent changes to the eardrum. Some hearing care providers recommend ventilating tubes to clear the blockage for prolonged cases.
- Noise Damage – Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent and caused by damaged hair cells in the ear, which are responsible for creating electrical signals from the sounds you hear. Those signals are carried to the brain through auditory nerve pathways. Damaged cells do not grow back, but treatment options are available for permanent hearing loss, including hearing aids or a cochlear implant.
- Acoustic Neuroma – This rare, noncancerous tumor develops along the eighth cranial nerve. This nerve is highly involved in the ability to hear and balance. Most acoustic neuromas don’t get bigger, and those that grow do so slowly and steadily. Symptoms typically start to develop when the neuroma presses on various structures.
- Cholesteatoma – This noncancerous skin growth develops in the eardrum and can grow further into the middle ear and neighboring mastoid bone. They typically grow aggressively and significantly increase a person’s risk of getting middle ear infections.
- Ear Infection – Much like sinus infections, ear infections sometimes go away on their own. In some cases, you may need antibiotics to kick the infection for good. If your clogged ear symptoms are mild, you can try home remedies before scheduling an appointment with a healthcare provider.
- Eustachian Tube Dysfunction – Eustachian (or auditory) tube dysfunction is an umbrella term for several things that can give you the feeling of having clogged ears. Possible causes include excess mucus due to upper respiratory illnesses or allergies, infection or inflammation of the sinus passages, damage to the ear’s natural cleaning system due to smoking, and fatty deposits forming around the eustachian tubes due to obesity.
- Changes in Altitude/Atmospheric Pressure – When atmospheric pressure suddenly changes, or you change altitude, the fluctuation can cause your ears to clog or “pop.” Extreme changes can injure your eardrum or other structures within your ear.
How Can You Safely Unclog Your Ears?
Below, we’ve listed some of the most effective ways to alleviate the discomfort caused by clogged ears. If you’re still dealing with symptoms of a clogged ear after trying some of these at-home remedies, you can schedule an appointment with our hearing care professionals, and we’ll take a look. Some easy things to try include:
- Use over-the-counter ear drops to clear your clogged ear (look foractive ingredients like mineral oil, hydrogen peroxide, or glycerin and follow the instructions closely).
- Apply a warm compress over the clogged ear for 10 to 15 minutes toreduce inflammation and soften earwax so it’s easier to remove.
- Create a saline solution by mixing one teaspoon of salt with warm water and stirring until it’s completely dissolved. Put a few drops of the solution into your clogged ear while resting on your side for a few minutes. Tilt your head the opposite way to let the solution drain into a clean towel.
- Try a commercial ear-unclogging product, such as ear irrigation systems and earwax removal kits. Following the instructions closely is essential to avoid damaging your ears further. When in doubt, consult with a hearing care provider about your clogged ears when in doubt.
Preventing Clogged Ears in the Future
Some simple things you can do to prevent your ears from clogging include the following:
- Don’t stick anything inside your ear, such as cotton swabs, which can push earwax further inside the canal.
- Wear custom hearing protection in loud or noisy environments to safeguard your ears from damage.
- If possible, avoid exposing yourself to sudden changes in atmospheric pressure.
When to Seek Medical Attention
It’s important to consult with a healthcare provider if you have:
- Ear pain
- Vertigo
- Ringing in your ears
- Lost, distorted, or muffled hearing
- Pressure in your ears that won’t go away
- Fluid discharge coming from your ears
- A foreign object stuck in your ear
- Any other new or unusual symptoms
Get Help for Your Clogged Ears Today
You deserve high-quality and reliable care when it comes to your hearing health. At Hear Michigan Centers, we take a comprehensive approach to finding the best individualized solutions for each patient. We’ll thoroughly examine your ears, conduct an in-depth evaluation, and consider your lifestyle and needs when deciding the next steps. The Hear Michigan Centers team has years of experience providing comprehensive hearing care services for patients throughout Michigan. We make it easy to get expert care. Contact us today to learn more about our hearing services, or schedule an appointment to start your journey towards better hearing.
