The feeling that something is lodged in your ear, often described as fullness, pressure, or a muffled sound, is a common experience. This sensation, medically known as aural fullness, suggests an obstruction or a change in pressure within the delicate structures of the ear. While many causes are temporary and resolve without intervention, persistent or painful symptoms should be addressed with caution due to the complexity of the ear’s anatomy.
Common Internal Causes of Ear Blockage
The most frequent source of a blocked sensation is the body’s own protective mechanism: cerumen, or earwax. Earwax impaction occurs when this natural substance, which cleans and lubricates the ear canal, builds up and completely obstructs the passage, often leading to a dull or muffled hearing loss and a feeling of pressure. Incorrect cleaning methods, such as using cotton swabs, can push the wax deeper, compacting it against the eardrum and worsening the blockage.
Another internal cause involves the middle ear, the air-filled space behind the eardrum. Infections, such as otitis media, can cause fluid to accumulate in this space, resulting in pressure, sharp pain, and sometimes fever or drainage. Unlike the dull pressure from wax, an infection often involves inflammation that irritates the sensitive tissues.
The sensation of blockage can also arise from an imbalance of air pressure, known as barotrauma, commonly experienced during air travel or scuba diving. This condition occurs when the eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nose, cannot equalize the pressure with the outside environment. Barotrauma typically causes a feeling of stuffiness, popping, or temporary hearing loss until the pressure equalizes naturally through actions like swallowing or yawning.
Identifying Literal Foreign Objects
When the feeling of something in the ear is sudden and intense, it may be due to an object or organism that has physically entered the ear canal from the outside. This is particularly common in children, who may insert small, inanimate items such as beads, small toy parts, or pieces of cotton from swabs. The symptoms of an inanimate foreign object often include localized pain, a persistent feeling of fullness, or a partial loss of hearing if the object completely blocks the canal.
Live insects often signal their presence with a loud buzzing, rustling, or sensation of movement against the eardrum. This can cause immediate distress due to sound amplification within the confined ear canal. Organic material, such as food particles or seeds, can be problematic because they may swell in the moist environment or cause a rapid onset of infection.
Safe Steps for Relief and When to See a Doctor
For the pressure associated with altitude changes or congestion, specific techniques can often provide relief by encouraging the eustachian tubes to open. Chewing gum, yawning widely, or performing the Valsalva maneuver—gently exhaling while holding the nose and mouth closed—can help equalize the pressure. For a mild earwax blockage, over-the-counter cerumenolytic drops, which contain hydrogen peroxide or enzymes, can be used to soften the wax before it naturally works its way out.
Strictly avoid inserting any instrument into the ear canal, including cotton swabs, hairpins, or fingers, as this risks pushing the blockage deeper or causing injury to the eardrum. If a live insect is suspected, a few drops of mineral oil or baby oil can be gently administered to immobilize or kill the insect before seeking medical removal. Tilting the head to the side may also allow water or loose debris to exit the ear canal naturally.
Immediate medical attention is necessary if the feeling of blockage is accompanied by severe symptoms, which can indicate serious internal damage or infection. Signs requiring a doctor’s examination include sharp or unrelenting pain, bleeding or foul-smelling discharge, or a sudden, significant loss of hearing. If a button-type battery has entered the ear, emergency care is mandatory, as these objects can leak chemicals and cause severe tissue damage quickly. If home treatment for a simple blockage does not provide relief within a few days, or if a perforated eardrum is suspected, consult a healthcare professional.