Why Your Ears Feel Clogged: Hearing Loss, Earwax, or Allergies?

That Plugged-Up Feeling — What’s Really Going On?

You wake up and one ear feels off. Sounds are muffled. Your own voice sounds odd in your head. Maybe it pops when you yawn, maybe it doesn’t. You shake your head, hoping it’ll clear.

It doesn’t.

A clogged, full feeling in the ears is one of the more common reasons people start searching online before they ever call a clinic. The challenge is that the same symptom can come from very different causes — and figuring out the right cause matters.

Sometimes it’s earwax. Sometimes it’s allergies or a cold. And sometimes it can be a sign of hearing loss. Here’s how each one tends to present and when it may be time to see an Audiologist.

How Your Ears Are Supposed to Work

A quick refresher helps. Sound travels through the outer ear, down the ear canal, and reaches the eardrum. Three small bones in the middle ear pass the vibration to the inner ear, where it’s turned into signals your brain can understand.

A small tube called the Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the back of the throat. It helps balance pressure and drain fluid. When everything works as it should, you don’t notice it at all.

When something is off — wax in the canal, fluid behind the eardrum, or changes in the inner ear — the brain notices quickly. You may feel plugged up, muffled, or like you’re underwater.

Cause #1: Earwax (Cerumen) Buildup

Earwax has a job. It traps dust and debris, helps protect against bacteria, and keeps the ear canal from drying out.

The issue starts when too much builds up or it gets pushed deeper into the canal.

Common signs of earwax buildup:

1. Came on gradually over days or weeks

2. One ear feels more plugged than the other

3. Muffled sound rather than complete silence

4. Itching or a feeling of fullness

5. Sometimes ringing or echoing of your own voice

6. Symptoms can worsen with earbud or hearing aid use

Research suggests that approximately 5% of healthy adults and up to 57% of older adults in long-term care experience cerumen impaction [1]. A 2024 review on cerumen impaction in older adults reported that about 30% of older adults need cerumen management in primary care [2].

What to do:

Avoid using cotton swabs, hairpins, or “ear candling.” Cotton swabs can push wax further into the canal, and ear candling is not considered a safe method by Health Canada or medical organizations.

Over-the-counter softening drops may help with light buildup. For full blockage, or symptoms lasting more than a couple of weeks, an Audiologist can examine the ear canal and remove wax using safe in-office techniques such as suction or curette removal under microscope.

Cause #2: Allergies, Colds, and Eustachian Tube Issues

If your clogged ears showed up alongside a runny nose, sore throat, or itchy eyes, allergies or a viral illness may be involved.

The connection is the Eustachian tube. Allergies and colds cause swelling in the nose and throat, which can affect the Eustachian tube and make it harder for the middle ear to drain and equalize pressure. The result can be muffled hearing, a sense of pressure, and that “underwater” feeling.

Research has documented a clear link between allergic rhinitis and Eustachian tube dysfunction. A study published in Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology found that about one-third of patients with allergic rhinitis showed signs of Eustachian tube dysfunction on objective testing, compared to only about 6% of healthy controls [3]. A broader review in Medicine reported that Eustachian tube dysfunction affects approximately 4.6% of adults in the United States [4].

Common signs of allergy- or congestion-related ear symptoms:

1. Started alongside cold, flu, or allergy symptoms

2. Both ears may feel affected

3. Worse when lying down or bending over

4. Pressure or popping when swallowing or yawning

5. Symptoms shift with weather or season

What to do:

Many cases resolve as the underlying cold or allergies improve. Antihistamines, nasal corticosteroid sprays, and decongestants may help in some cases — speak with your physician or pharmacist about what may be appropriate for you.

If symptoms last more than a few weeks, or if you have frequent ear infections, it’s worth booking an appointment with an Audiologist or your physician. Ongoing middle ear issues can affect hearing if not addressed.

Cause #3: Hearing Loss

This is the cause that’s often missed. Hearing loss doesn’t always feel like “I can’t hear.” Many people describe it as muffled sound, like others are mumbling, or like something is stuck in their ear that won’t go away.

Hearing changes often happen slowly, and the brain adjusts. People may not notice the sounds they’re missing — they just notice that conversations feel harder, that they’re asking others to repeat themselves more often, or that they’re more tired after social events.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.5 billion people globally live with some degree of hearing loss, and the number is expected to rise [5]. Hearing loss can develop at any age, but becomes more common with age.

Possible signs that the clogged feeling is related to hearing loss:

1. It’s been going on for months, not days

2. Both ears feel similarly affected

3. Voices sound muffled, especially higher-pitched voices

4. You can hear sound, but words are harder to understand

5. Family has commented on TV or radio volume

6. Ringing or buzzing (tinnitus) is present

7. It doesn’t resolve after addressing wax or allergy symptoms

What to do:

A hearing evaluation with an Audiologist is the way to find out what’s going on. The evaluation is non-invasive and includes tests to measure how you hear different sounds and speech. If hearing loss is identified, your Audiologist can discuss the type and severity and review options that may be appropriate for your situation.

A Note on Sudden Hearing Loss

Sudden hearing loss in one ear is a different situation. It is generally considered a medical urgency, and current clinical guidelines recommend evaluation as soon as possible — ideally within 72 hours of onset [6]. If you experience a sudden change in hearing in one ear, contact your physician or an Audiologist promptly.

How to Sort It Out at Home

A few patterns to watch for:

Came on suddenly with a cold or allergy flare? Often related to congestion.

Came on gradually, mostly one ear, feels physically blocked? Often related to earwax.

Off and on for months, both ears, muffled voices? May be related to hearing changes.

Sudden hearing change in one ear with no clear cause? Seek prompt evaluation.

These are general patterns, not a diagnosis. Symptoms can overlap, and the only way to know for certain is a clinical examination.

When to Book an Appointment

It may be helpful to book an appointment if any of these apply:

1. The clogged feeling has lasted more than 2–3 weeks

2. The feeling keeps returning

3. One ear feels much different than the other

4. You hear ringing or buzzing

5. Voices sound muffled

6. You’ve noticed changes in TV or phone volume

7. You’re feeling dizzy or off-balance

An Audiologist can examine your ears, remove wax safely if needed, and complete a hearing evaluation to give you accurate information about what’s going on.

Book a Hearing Evaluation in North York

At Toronto Hearing Services, Doctor of Audiology Lorraine Vosu provides hearing evaluations and hearing care services to patients in North York and the surrounding area. If your ears have been feeling clogged or muffled, we’re here to help you find answers.

 

Sources

[1] Schwartz, S. R., Magit, A. E., Rosenfeld, R. M., et al. (2017). Clinical Practice Guideline (Update): Earwax (Cerumen Impaction). Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, 156(1_suppl), S1–S29. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0194599816671491

[2] Update on Cerumen Impaction Management in Older Adults. (2024). The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1555415524002307

[3] Ren, J., et al. (2020). Eustachian tube dysfunction in patients with house dust mite-allergic rhinitis. Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7362452/

[4] Allergy in pathogenesis of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. (2024). Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10809091/

[5] World Health Organization. Deafness and hearing loss. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss

[6] Chandrasekhar, S. S., Tsai Do, B. S., Schwartz, S. R., et al. (2019). Clinical Practice Guideline: Sudden Hearing Loss (Update). Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, 161(1_suppl), S1–S45. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0194599819859885