My ears feel blocked – why is this?

Having blocked ears isn’t a great feeling. Probably the most irritating thing is that you may struggle to hear properly!

However, for some people, the sensation of having blocked ears can also cause pain. It’s important to establish the cause of your blocked ears so you can get the right treatment.

Painful Blocked Ears

The first thing to consider if you are experiencing pain is that you may have an ear infection. Ear infections are very common and can be triggered by a range of different things.  This includes sinus infections, excess mucus and even allergies. Ear infections usually go away within a week or 2 but could need antibiotics from your GP to clear up. If the infection is in your inner ear, it may last longer than a few weeks. It’s important to get checked out by your GP if you believe you have an ear infection. In very rare cases, more serious inner ear infections can be followed by a ruptured ear drum, hearing loss or even meningitis.

Non-Painful Blocked Ears

If you have a blocked up feeling in your ears but aren’t experiencing any pain, it’s likely you have a build-up of excess earwax. Earwax is usually a good thing as it protects our ears from dirt and bacteria. It ensures that these things don’t make their way through to the ear canal where they could damage the eardrum.

Some people produce too much earwax; this isn’t a problem as it can be easily removed. Excess earwax can cause people to experience symptoms similar to an infection, tinnitus, vertigo or a cough. It can also affect your hearing. If a build-up of earwax is left for too long, it could end up causing a hearing loss further down the line.

Causes of Excess Earwax

As we mentioned above, some people produce more earwax than others. There are so many different reasons as to why this is; one example is people who regularly swim have been known to experience of higher production of earwax. Another reason that can cause your ears to feel blocked is wearing hearing aids or earplugs. They tend to prevent earwax from falling out of the ear which in turn can cause a blockage. Hearing aid users will have regular check-ups with their Audiologist who will be able to check for any earwax blockages.

Book in for an earwax removal appointment today

Earwax Removal

It’s so tempting to grab a cotton bud or use your finger to try and remove excess earwax but PLEASE DON’T. Most of the time this can make things worse. You will need to seek the assistance of a hearing healthcare professional who can examine your ears and remove the earwax safely. Earwax can be removed via microsuction or irrigation. We regularly offer microsuction as we believe it is a safer form of earwax removal.

If your ears continue to feel blocked or clogged after you have had earwax removal and you still have no pain, you may have the beginning of hearing loss and should consider booking yourself in for a hearing consultation. If you do have a hearing loss, it’s best to have it diagnosed as early as possible. Please give us a call if you feel you need any further information or would like to book in for an earwax removal appointment.

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