AN ARTICLE FROM THE TEAM AT EAR STUDIO
Imagine you’re walking through a serene forest, the sounds of nature surrounding you, but suddenly everything feels muffled, as if you’ve been plunged underwater. This unsettling sensation is what it feels like when your ears are blocked. Let’s delve into why this can happen and what you can do about it.
This sensation can occur when the eustachian tube is not functioning well or it becomes obstructed. The eustachian tube is a small channel that connects the middle ear to the nose and sinuses. This tube equalises the pressure in your middle ear, behind the ear drum.
There are tests used to check that the pressure behind your eardrum is equal to the pressure in the atmosphere, outside of your ear. This test is called tympanometry. When this measurement shows that the pressure in the ear is too positive or too negative, this can be a sign that the eustachian tube is not working, or it is blocked. When the eustachian tube is not functioning well, you may experience fullness or pressure in your head.
Common Causes of Blocked Ears Our ears can feel blocked for several reasons such as excessive ear wax, fluid build-up behind the eardrum, something stuck in the ear such as a cotton-bud or earphone tip or sudden hearing loss.
Unfortunately, many people adopt a “wait and see” approach, hoping their ears will unblock on their own. It is very important to investigate the cause of the blockage as soon as you can. Hearing care providers, such as audiometrists and audiologists, can perform several tests to identify what is causing the symptoms.
It is also a good idea to see your doctor if you are experiencing fever or cold and flu with your ear-related symptoms. Blocked Eustachian Tubes and Their Causes Blocked eustachian tubes can be caused by allergies, sinus infections, or swelling from a recent cold.
These conditions can lead to fluid collecting in the middle ear, causing pain, muffled hearing, ringing or popping noises, and dizziness. This sensation is particularly common in children, whose eustachian tubes are shorter, narrower, and more horizontal, it is easier for fluid to build up and become blocked.
The Impact of Flying It’s important that blocked ears are managed before getting on an aeroplane. When you are on a plane the pressure is, especially in descent, changing rapidly in the cabin. This puts stress on the eardrum, particularly if the middle ear does not equalise appropriately. Flying with blocked ears can be very uncomfortable or at times, painful. In extreme cases, when there is continual or increased pressure on the eardrum, it can burst, leading to further complications.
What to Do if Your Ears Are Blocked If your ears are feeling blocked, it is important to see a local hearing care provider, such as Ear Studio. At Ear Studio, we can complete several tests to identify what is causing the blocked sensation in your ears.
If eustachian tube dysfunction is the cause for the blocked feeling you are experiencing, a nasal decongestant or nasal spray is often recommended. At Ear Studio, we can test your hearing, remove ear wax build-up, or refer you to the right specialists to get you on the path to clearing the blocked feeling from your ears!
Call Ear Studio on (02) 9159 6122 or visit our website www.earstudio.com.au to make an appointment today.
