Muffled hearing can present for a wide variety of reasons. For the majority of people, it’s a short-term experience. In other instances, muffled hearing can be a harbinger of more significant hearing-related problems. That’s because, for the most part, hearing loss is a slowly developing condition. Symptoms build slowly and over time.
Often, one of the first recognizable symptoms is a sense that sounds feel muffled, distorted, or quieter. However, it’s significant to point out that muffled hearing in and of itself is not always an indication of long-term hearing loss. Indeed, millions of people experience muffled hearing each year.
Perhaps you’re wondering if you should be worried about your muffled hearing. Generally, the answer tends to vary. Finding the right treatment for your muffled hearing depends on understanding the underlying cause. Added damage can be prevented and your hearing can get back to normal with some quick 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.
Muffled Hearing – what exactly is it?
When sound can’t move through your outer, middle, and inner ear in a normal way, your hearing can sound muffled. A rather 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 distorted. Hearing speech and language can be especially challenging.
Your ears will frequently also feel plugged up when your hearing is muffled. Lots of people have experienced this feeling for a short time, for example, when they have a cold or are flying. This plugged feeling, however, doesn’t always come along with muffled hearing.
Causes of muffled hearing
There are a lot of possible causes of muffled hearing. In order to formulate the appropriate course of treatment, it’s important to establish the root cause. Here are several of the most prevalent causes:
- Age-associated hearing loss: Most individuals will experience decreasing hearing as they age. After all, there are few senses as sharp when you are 80 as they were when you are 18. Over time, muffled hearing can be the result of this natural decline of your ability to hear.
- Meniere’s Disease: When you have Menier’s Disease, you suffer from chronic hearing and balance issues. Over time, this disease can trigger tinnitus, loss of hearing (often starting with muffled hearing), and dizziness or loss of balance. There is no cure for Meniere’s Disease, but symptoms can be treated.
- Infection: In some cases, issues such as infections (such as sinus infections or ear infections) can result in inflammation in the ear canal (this is especially true with ear infections). This swelling can cause your ear canal to swell shut, effectively decreasing your ability to hear. Once the root infection goes away, any swelling it caused should also clear.
- Travel: Altitude changes, like when you’re on a plane, can cause a feeling of muffled ears. Your hearing will go back to normal relatively quickly once your physical conditions return to normal.
- Sensorineural hearing loss: In some cases, muffled hearing can be the outcome of noise-related hearing loss. Sadly, this type of hearing loss is normally permanent. One of the very first recognizable symptoms is muffled hearing; but damage to your stereocilia has usually already happened by the time you notice the distorted sounds. If you don’t seek out treatment quickly, your hearing will rapidly get worse.
- Earwax buildup: Earwax is generally a helpful thing. The health of your ear canal depends on the generation of earwax. However, too much earwax can ultimately cause muffled hearing (or even hearing loss). Try a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide in your ear to loosen the wax up. Do not utilize a cotton swab to try to dislodge the earwax, as cotton swabs can compact your earwax and make the issue worse. We can help if the problem continues.
Depending on the root cause, the exact symptoms of muffled hearing will differ.
Is there a cure for muffled hearing?
Not all forms of muffled hearing can be cured. The underlying cause of your muffled hearing will determine the treatment strategy. We may use some special tools to help clean out your ear canal if, for instance, earwax buildup is at the root of your muffled hearing. Antibiotics are usually prescribed if your muffled hearing is being caused by an infection.
Symptom management is usually the strategy when you have sensorineural hearing loss as opposed to a cure. That’s because sensorineural hearing loss can’t be reversed. However, symptoms can be managed. There may be numerous approaches to this treatment including a pair of hearing aids.
With hearing aids, you can keep enjoying your day-to-day activities without hearing loss effecting your quality of life.
Avoiding muffled hearing
Some types of muffled hearing are difficult to avoid, no matter what. Infections, for instance, can’t always be avoided.
However, in most instances, routine hearing tests can help you avoid many of the causes of muffled hearing and identify any permanent hearing loss early. These checkups can help you stay on top of your hearing health and get treatment quickly.