Clogged ears are a common and often temporary annoyance, typically characterized by a feeling of fullness, muffled hearing, or mild pressure and discomfort. This sensation occurs when the delicate pressure balance inside the ear is disrupted. While often bothersome, the issue frequently resolves on its own or with simple at-home measures. Understanding the root cause is the first step toward finding the most effective path to relief.
Common Reasons for Clogged Ears
The feeling of a blocked ear is usually caused by an issue in one of three areas: the Eustachian tubes, the ear canal, or the middle ear space. The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the back of the throat, opening briefly to equalize air pressure on both sides of the eardrum. When this tube becomes inflamed or blocked—often due to a cold, allergies, or altitude changes—it creates negative pressure that pulls the eardrum inward, causing the sensation of fullness and muffled hearing.
Accumulation of cerumen, or earwax, within the ear canal is another common cause. Earwax is naturally produced to protect the ear, but if it is pushed too far in (often by cotton swabs), it can become impacted. This physical blockage dampens sound and can lead to an earache, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), or dizziness. Fluid build-up behind the eardrum, known as otitis media with effusion, can also occur following a cold or sinus infection, leading to a blocked sensation and pain.
Physical Maneuvers for Pressure Equalization
When the blockage is due to pressure imbalance, specific physical actions can help open the Eustachian tube.
Valsalva and Toynbee Maneuvers
The Valsalva maneuver involves pinching your nose shut and gently exhaling while keeping your mouth closed to force air into the middle ear. It is important to exhale gently, as forcing the breath too hard can potentially cause ear injury.
The Toynbee maneuver involves pinching the nostrils closed while simultaneously swallowing. This action creates a vacuum in the back of the throat, which helps to pull the Eustachian tube open.
Simple acts like yawning, chewing gum, or sucking on hard candy also encourage swallowing and muscular movement that naturally opens the tubes. Inhaling steam from a hot shower or a humidifier may also help reduce inflammation and swelling in the nasal passages, relieving pressure on the Eustachian tubes.
Over-the-Counter Drops and Medications
When an obstruction is caused by hardened earwax, over-the-counter drops containing cerumenolytics are often the first line of treatment. Solutions like mineral oil, baby oil, or hydrogen peroxide are commonly used to soften and break down the wax. Hydrogen peroxide, often found in carbamide peroxide ear drops, works by releasing oxygen, which causes the cerumen to bubble and loosen its hold on the ear canal wall.
For proper application, you should lie on your side with the affected ear facing upward, administer the recommended number of drops, and remain still for several minutes to allow the solution to penetrate the wax.
If congestion from a cold or allergies is the cause, oral decongestants like pseudoephedrine or nasal sprays like oxymetazoline can help reduce the swelling of the nasal lining near the Eustachian tube opening. Reducing this inflammation can help the tube function correctly.
When Home Remedies Are Not Enough
Although most cases of clogged ears resolve quickly, certain persistent symptoms should prompt a visit to a healthcare professional. You should seek medical attention if the blocked sensation is accompanied by severe ear pain, fever, or a discharge of fluid or pus from the ear. These signs may indicate an infection, such as otitis media or otitis externa, that requires prescription treatment.
Other serious symptoms include sudden, significant hearing loss, persistent dizziness, or vertigo, which could point to a more serious inner ear condition. If home remedies have been attempted for 48 hours without any improvement, or if symptoms last longer than one to two weeks, a medical evaluation is warranted.
A doctor can use specialized tools to confirm the cause, such as an impacted earwax plug, and perform safe removal via irrigation or specialized instruments.