There are many times in life, such as the Fourth of July, or when someone turns their car stereo up way too loud, when we purposely plug our ears with either our fingers or earplugs. We do this to help protect our ears or to avoid hearing things that we don’t want to hear. When we purposely plug our ears, it’s an unusual feeling. It doesn't cancel out 100 percent of the surrounding sound, but it muffles it well enough to make us comfortable. 

So why might your ears feel “clogged or “plugged” even when you don’t plug them? At Active Hearing Health, we are a hearing specialist Omaha clinic that understands why this can happen. Below, we go over some of the common causes of “clogged ears”.

Earwax

Normally, earwax is what helps keep your ear canal protected, healthy and safe. Having earwax is perfectly normal, and in fact, very important! However, over time your earwax can build up, become hardened, and end up impacting your hearing. This can be due to some health conditions, but also things that you put in your ear. Q-tips, for example, can actually end up causing your earwax to become impacted to the point where it blocks your whole ear canal. 

If you continue to experience symptoms or ever experience pain, it’s a good idea to set up an appointment with a hearing specialist Omaha professional. Going to an ear specialist is the safest and most effective way to remove earwax from your ears. 

Issues with your sinuses

We love springtime because it means that we can finally put away our winter coat, but we hate allergy season! Whether it's due to a cold or chronic allergies, your Eustachian tube can swell and close off the connection from your throat to your middle ear. This will cause your ears to feel “clogged” and, the worst case scenario, could cause pain and hearing loss. Allergy season or not, if you develop sudden hearing loss or pain in your ears, make an appointment with a doctor.

Fluids

Have you ever gotten home from a long day at the pool, or gotten out of a long, hot bath, and felt like your ears were waterlogged or clogged? This is never a fun feeling. Fluid buildup can happen in your middle ear space and your ear canal, and can cause symptoms of pain and loss of hearing. Too much fluid buildup can definitely make your ears feel like they are clogged. 

Fluid buildup doesn’t only happen after you take a swim either. Middle ear fluid buildup can also be caused by allergies and congestion. There are also ways to help ease this discomfort and drain your ear, including yawning, chewing gum or tilting your head while you gently pull on your earlobe. 

When your ears randomly become clogged, it can be irritating, uncomfortable and even painful. If these symptoms persist for longer than a day or two, it’s a smart idea to schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist Omaha as soon as possible. 

Visit Us!

Dr. Nikki and Dr. Noel are both always ready and willing to help you with any of your hearing concerns, including clogged ears! Contact us to learn more about our services!