Hearing Aid Expert Explains The Causes Of Muffled Hearing In One Ear

 

According to an expert of hearing aids in Kolkata, muffled hearing can make you hear and feel like you have cotton balls in your ear. You may experience a sensation similar to the pressure you feel when flying in an airplane. While you may not be completely deaf, you may have to strain to hear others clearly.

When sound waves have difficulty passing through the inner ear, they become muffled. A variety of factors can cause this condition. Some cases are minor and resolve quickly, while others necessitate medical attention to protect your hearing.

Muffled hearing in one ear causes

Hearing loss in one ear can be a sign of various conditions. The following are common causes of it:

Earwax accumulation

Earwax keeps dirt and debris out of the ear canal and acts as a lubricant for the ears. It can, however, build up and become impacted in one or both ears at times. A minor earwax buildup can cause muffled hearing, but a severe buildup can cause hearing loss.

Earwax buildup can also cause earache, extreme pressure, and ringing in the ears, says the expert of hearing loss treatment in Kolkata.

Presbycusis

This refers to the gradual loss of hearing in high-pitched sounds with age. A person with this kind of muffled hearing may have trouble hearing a phone ring. The hearing loss can be mild to severe.

Other symptoms include difficulty hearing in the presence of background noise, ringing in the ear and difficulty hearing a woman's voice.

Infection in the middle ear

These bacterial or viral infections occur when fluid accumulates in the middle ear due to eustachian tube swelling or inflammation, which can lead to muffled hearing. This tube aids in the drainage of fluid from the middle ear.

Some middle ear infections resolve on their own. On the other hand, others can lead to hearing loss if left untreated. Middle ear infections can result in ear pain and drainage, says the specialist of a hearing aid centre in Kolkata.

Infection of the nose (sinusitis)

When the cavities around the nasal passage become inflamed and swollen, this is referred to as a sinus infection. Infection-related sinus drainage can cause ear congestion and muffled hearing. A headache, coughing, bad breath, fever and fatigue are some other symptoms. Mild sinusitis does not necessitate a visit to the doctor.

The common cold

A typical cold can also cause muffled hearing due to Eustachian tube congestion. 

Colds are normally innocuous, and a plugged ear will clear itself after the congestion has gone away. Frequent cold symptoms include a runny nose, coughing, body pains, a low-grade fever and a sore throat, says the expert of hearing aids in Kolkata.