An ear plug, an ear infection, a bad cold… Several causes can cause the sensation of a blocked ear.
The feeling of blocked ear is the symptom of different pathologies (ear infections, flu, colds, etc.) and also manifests itself in certain specific circumstances, on a plane or when you have water in your ear, while scuba diving for example. She will express herself by slight hearing loss on the side of the blocked ear. It can appear suddenly or gradually, and is particularly felt with each swallowing or yawning. If the feeling of a blocked ear lasts for several days, occurs spontaneously, or is accompanied by other symptoms (pain, fever), it is imperative to consult your doctor.
What causes a blocked ear?
► A plug of earwax: Earwax is a yellow, greasy substance secreted naturally by the ear to lubricate it and protect it from external dust. Sometimes it accumulates in the ear, instead of draining and forms a plug. This mouth blocks the passage of sounds into the ear canal and causes this blocked ear sensation.
► Water “trapped” in the ear: this is typically seen in swimmers and causes a blocked ear sensation; In this case, the water must be drained quickly to avoid infection.
► A foreign body in the ear: “particularly in young children, can also explain this sudden loss of hearingexplains Dr Dominique Chevalier, ENT doctor. It is best to have it removed as soon as possible.“.
► A middle ear infectiondue to otitis, a cold Or a simple cold for example, may be another cause of the phenomenon. These pathologies can in fact lead to inflammation of the ear canal and therefore swelling, causing the blocked ear.
► A perforation of the eardrum: the sensation can also come from an abnormality in the eardrum, such as a perforation.
► Ménière’s disease: the feeling of blocked ear is the symptom of this rare disease, a chronic condition of the inner ear, also causing attacks of dizziness.
► A change in pressure (airplane, diving): a blocked ear often follows a sudden change in pressure, which we feel in particular in an airplane or while scuba diving; we then talk about barotrauma or barotraumatic otitis. This condition corresponds to a painful inflammation of the ear, following a plane trip.
What to do to unblock the ear?
► In case of accumulation of earwax in the earsthere are specific products sold in pharmacies to soften the earwax so that it drains and the ear becomes unblocked. If you are unable to remove the earwax blockage yourself using over-the-counter products, do not hesitate to make an appointment with an ENT specialist, who will get rid of it quickly. Please note, these products should not be used if the eardrums are pierced.
► The use of cotton swabs is strongly discouraged because they risk pushing the earwax deeper into the ear canal, and thus worsen the symptoms. If they are used, it is only to clean the outside of the ear and the entrance to the canal without ever pushing them in. Prefer cup-shaped sticks which are more effective in removing earwax.
► In case of infectionantibiotic treatment may be considered by the specialist.
► In the planethe mere fact of yawn or swallow is sometimes enough to eliminate the sensation of blocked ears. To balance the pressure between the outer ear and the middle ear, we can also practice the Valsalva maneuver : this consists of plug your nose, then blow while keeping your mouth closed so as to blow air into the Eustachian tubes.
► “In case of sudden deafnessit is advisable to consult a specialist quicklyparticularly if other clinical signs, such as dizziness, appear“, specifies Doctor Chevalier. In all cases, if the sensation of a blocked ear persists, consulting a specialist will eliminate this unpleasant sensation as quickly as possible and will avoid any complications that have a lasting impact on hearing.