If your ears are plugged, try swallowing, yawning or chewing sugar-free gum to open your eustachian tubes. If this doesn't work, take a deep breath and try to blow out of your nose gently while pinching your nostrils closed and keeping your mouth shut.
Blocked eustachian tubes
When the eustachian tube is blocked, it prevents the air bubble from moving into the middle ear, eventually creating a vacuum and pulling on the eardrum. This can be uncomfortable and can cause other problems in the ear, such as hearing loss and dizziness.
For most people, blocked ears are a temporary condition that will clear up when the pressure in the ears returns to normal. However, if this doesn't happen a visit to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) professional may be helpful.
Exactly how long your blockage will last depends, not unexpectedly, on what the cause of the blockage is. You may need to get medical attention if your blockage isn't the kind that clears itself up quickly. You shouldn't let your blockage linger for longer than a week, as a general rule, without having it examined.
Ear infections are very common and can be caused by many things, including sinus infections, excess mucus, allergies, and even smoking. Clogged ears from a mild ear infection usually last one or two weeks. If the problems are in the inner ear, this could last longer.
Sometimes you won't know you have a problem until you are already participating in the activity. If your ears do not pop and you feel like they are clogged or you are experiencing significant ear pain, see a healthcare provider.
This can happen for brief periods during air travel, but also due to allergies, sinus or ear infections, or other respiratory viruses (including COVID-19). Sudden onset of muffled hearing in one ear may signal an urgent problem requiring prompt treatment to prevent or reduce possible hearing loss.
Tips for managing clogged ears at home include using baby oil to soften and remove earwax and using the Valsalva maneuver if ears feel clogged due to changes in pressure. However, some causes will need medical attention. The ears interpret sound waves for hearing and also help maintain balance in the body.
To do this, just gently massage the outside of the ear using circular movements. That way, the impaction will soften, which can help the earwax drain more easily. Once you've finished making these circular movements, pull your ear slightly backwards, from the lobe to the top of the auricle.
Eustachian tube dysfunction occurs when the Eustachian tube — which connects the middle ear to the back of the throat — doesn't open and close properly. When the Eustachian tube doesn't open and close properly, it can cause that clogged-up feeling.
Muffled Hearing in One Ear
When the condition occurs in one ear, it's likely a sign of a single-sided ear infection, a clogged ear or earwax buildup.
If you have earwax buildup, certain ear drops can soften and loosen your earwax for easier removal. There are three types of softening drops for earwax: water-based, non-water-based and oil-based. If you have impacted earwax, a healthcare provider may recommend ear drops containing: Carbamide peroxide.
If the feeling of fullness in your ear is persistent, you should see a healthcare provider, especially when it is accompanied by other symptoms such as: Ear pain. Dizziness. Loss of balance.
Frequently people report having had a cold that got better, but left them with a blocked ear (or ears). It usually gets better in a week or two, but can last for months afterwards. Swellings at the back of the nose (the nasopharynx) can cause the Eustachian tubes to become blocked.
Yes, the heat from a hair dryer may help evaporate water and unclog ears. You may keep your blow dryer to its lowest setting and hold it about a foot away from your ear and move it in a back-and-forth motion. However, it may not be a safe option to try.
You can buy over-the-counter eardrops that break up earwax. The water-based ones contain ingredients such as acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, or sodium bicarbonate. Oil-based products lubricate and soften the earwax.
Signs and symptoms of earwax blockage may include: Earache. Feeling of fullness in the ear. Ringing or noises in the ear (tinnitus)
Your ears will most likely return to normal after a couple of days if air pressure is causing your blockage. If an ear infection is to blame for your clogged ears, you might have to wait until your body fights off the virus or bacteria at work (and, if it's the latter, antibiotics can really help).
Sleep position
Rest with your head on two or more pillows, so your affected ear is higher than the rest of your body. Or if your left ear has an infection, sleep on your right side. Less pressure equals less ear pain. It could be effective, though a few inches may not make a big difference in pressure measurement.
Earwax usually falls out on its own. If it doesn't and blocks your ear, put two or three drops of ordinary olive oil into the ear two or three times a day for two to three weeks. This softens the wax so that it comes out of its own accord without harming the ear. You will not necessarily see wax come out.