About 15% of adults in the United States aged 18 and older experience some degree of hearing problem. That translates to over 37 million US adults who have trouble hearing.
Ear fullness is one of the conditions that can lead to impaired hearing. After all, it can indicate that you do have a clogged ear. More than that, it can be a sign of a more serious issue, such as an ear infection.
To that end, we created this guide detailing the primary culprits behind ear fullness. Read on to discover why your ear feels full and what to do about it.
1. Earwax Blockage
Earwax blockage, also called impacted cerumen, is the build-up of too much earwax in the ear canal. Every year, some 12 million folks in the US end up visiting a healthcare professional due to this problem.
For starters, impacted cerumen often causes ear fullness and ringing. In many others, it can lead to ear pain, a feeling of imbalance, and temporary hearing impairment or loss.
Do note that earwax is a protective substance produced by glands found in the ear canal. It traps dust, debris, and other foreign particles that could cause ear damage. Under normal circumstances, it inches toward the ear’s opening to fall out or get washed away.
However, some people’s ears produce excessive amounts of earwax. Because there’s too much of the substance, some of it remains within the ear canal. Over time, more wax builds up, hardening inside the ear canal.
Hardened earwax is difficult to remove, and attempting to do so on your own can cause even more damage. For instance, a study found the use of cotton swabs to have caused 263,338 ear injuries from 1990 to 2010. Moreover, using swabs to try to get rid of the wax can push the substance deeper into your ear canal.
If you experience any of the signs of impacted cerumen, visit your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will use special tools to get rid of the clog and clean your ear safely.
2. Otitis Externa
If you hear things in a muffled way and your ear is itchy, painful, and feels full of fluid, you may have otitis externa. Also called swimmer’s ear, it’s an ear inflammation that affects about 10% of the population. It occurs when water penetrates the ear canal, promoting bacterial infection.
Swimming is a chief cause of otitis externa, but excessive showering or bathing can also cause it.
Visit your doctor if your symptoms don’t improve within a few days. Your physician will likely prescribe antibiotic eardrops to treat your swimmer’s ear.
You can also prevent future infections by using a swim cap whenever you take a dip in the pool or even as you shower. Another good trick is to gently towel your head and ears to keep water out of your ears.
3. Otitis Media
Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear, affecting up to eight in 10 children at least once in their life. It can happen to anyone, though, including adults. In adults, the symptoms include ear fullness, pain, and muffled hearing.
Otitis media often results from a swollen eustachian tube. The eustachian tube is a canal that connects the middle ear to the throat. It helps maintain proper pressure between the outer and the inner ear.
That tube can become inflamed or irritated if you develop a cold or experience an allergy attack. The swelling can then prevent fluid from draining from your middle ear. The fluid accumulates behind the eardrum, promoting the growth of bacteria and viruses.
As with otitis externa, antibiotic eardrops are common treatments for otitis media. Your doctor may also prescribe pain medications, antihistamines, or decongestants.
4. Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder
According to the Bay Area TMJ and Sleep Center, a TMJ disorder can cause ear fullness and pain. The TMJ connects the jawbone to the skull, and it acts as a sliding hinge for both. You have two TMJs, one on each side of the jaw.
A TMJ disorder can cause ear problems if it injures or makes the tensor veli palantine muscle swell. Part of this muscle connects to the ear’s eustachian tube, and it makes the canal open or close. TMJ disorders, such as bruxism, can damage or inflame this muscle.
Bruxism, in turn, is chronic and excessive teeth grinding and jaw clenching. It affects an estimated 8% of middle-aged adults.
Either way, the inflammation that such TMJ disorders can cause can make your ear feel stuffy or full. Visit your doctor, or better yet, a TMJ specialist to correct your jaw woes. You may only have to wear specialized oral appliances so that you can control your bruxism.
5. Sinus Pressure
Sinus pressure can also cause your ears to ring or feel full or clogged. Nose and nasal passage congestion, in turn, can raise the pressure in the eustachian tubes. Allergic reactions, smoking, swimming, and infections can all contribute to sinus pressure.
Sinus pressure tends to even out or disappear on its own after just a few days. If it doesn’t, you most likely need to take decongestants, antihistamines, and antibiotics. Visit your doctor as you need a prescription for antibiotics and most antihistamines.
Don’t Let Ear Fullness Rob You of Your Balance and Hearing
Please keep in mind that imbalance and impaired hearing raises a person’s risk of falls. Falls are debilitating, but they’re even more dangerous to older people.
Those should be good enough reasons to get your ear fullness looked at by your doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you have your clogged ear treated, the sooner you can get your hearing and balance back.
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