There are a large number of reasons for muffled hearing. For most people, it’s a temporary experience. But muffled hearing can also be a sign that a more severe hearing problem is occurring. In part, that’s because, outside of sudden hearing loss, hearing loss is typically not a condition that develops suddenly. Symptoms appear slowly over a long period of time.
Often, one of the first detectable symptoms is a sense that sounds feel muffled, distorted, or quieter. However, it’s important to point out that muffled hearing in and of itself is not always an indication of long-term hearing loss. Every year millions of people experience muffled hearing.
Maybe you’re wondering if you should be concerned about your muffled hearing. The answer depends on a number of factors. Finding the best treatment for your muffled hearing depends on understanding the underlying cause. Timely solutions can in some cases help get your hearing back to normal, or, at least minimize possible harm. Calling us for a consultation can help you begin this process, typically resulting in successful treatments, so you can keep enjoying the sounds of your day-to-day life.
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. This results in a noticeable decrease in sound quality. Hearing won’t be completely gone with muffled hearing but things will sound distorted and quieter. Discerning speech and language can be especially tough.
Your ears will often also feel plugged up when your hearing is muffled. Lots of individuals have experienced this feeling for a short time, for example, when they have a cold or when they are taking a flight. This plugged feeling, however, doesn’t always come with muffled hearing.
Causes of muffled hearing
There are lots of potential causes of muffled hearing. Determining the root cause of your muffled hearing can be important in establishing an effective treatment plan. Here are a few of the most prevalent causes:
- Hearing loss related to age: Most individuals will experience decreasing hearing as they get older. 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 consequence of this natural decline of your ability to hear.
- Meniere’s Disease: Meniere’s Disease is a long-term balance and hearing problem. Over time, this disease can trigger tinnitus, loss of hearing (frequently beginning with muffled hearing), and dizziness or loss of balance. The symptoms of Menier’s disease can be treated but not cured.
- Sensorineural hearing loss: Sometimes, muffled hearing can be the result of noise-related hearing loss. Regrettably, this kind of hearing loss is usually permanent. Muffled hearing is often one of the very first detectable symptoms; 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.
- Infection: In some cases, issues like infections (including sinus infections or ear infections) can result in inflammation in the ear canal (this is particularly true with ear infections). This will reduce your hearing ability by causing the ear canal to swell shut. Once the underlying infection goes away, any inflammation it caused should also clear.
- Travel: The changing altitude related to air travel can often cause a plugged feeling in the ear, followed closely by muffled hearing. Your hearing will go back to normal rather quickly once your physical conditions return to normal.
- Earwax buildup: Earwax is generally a helpful thing. The health of your ear canal depends on the generation of earwax. But muffled hearing (and in some cases even hearing loss) can be the result of too much earwax. This earwax can usually be loosened up by utilizing a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide. Do not make use of a cotton swab to attempt to free the earwax, as cotton swabs can compact your earwax and make the problem worse. We can help if the issue continues.
Depending on the root cause, the precise symptoms of muffled hearing will differ.
Can muffled hearing be cured?
Some types of muffled hearing can’t be cured. The base cause of your muffled hearing will determine the treatment strategy. For instance, if excessive earwax buildup is the principal cause, we may use specific tools to help you clean out your ear canal. Muffled hearing caused by an ear infection will usually clear up once the infection has been addressed, so antibiotics are frequently prescribed.
When it comes to sensorineural hearing loss, the emphasis changes to symptom management as opposed to a total cure. That’s because there’s no cure for sensorineural hearing loss. But it is possible to manage symptoms. There might be several strategies to this treatment including a pair of hearing aids.
Hearing aids can help you remain connected to loved ones and go about your day-to-day activities without a significantly noticeable effect, especially when this process is initiated promptly.
Avoiding muffled hearing
Some forms of muffled hearing are hard to avoid, no matter what. Infections, for example, can’t always be avoided.
Having your hearing tested, however, can help detect any causes of muffled hearing and can help avoid any long-term hearing loss that may be developing. Contact us for an appointment right away.
