Why is the ear stuffy?
For sound to be transmitted well, the ear canal must be free, the eardrum must be mobile, and the pressure in the middle ear must be equal to atmospheric pressure. The auditory tube, which connects the ear to the nasopharynx, is responsible for equalizing pressure. If the passage is blocked by sulfur or water, the membrane is retracted due to a pressure difference, or fluid has accumulated behind it, conductive congestion occurs. If the cells of the inner ear or the auditory nerve are damaged, a feeling of fullness appears in the normal outer and middle ear - this is a neurosensory disorder that requires special attention.
- Disturbances in the ear canal - wax, water, swelling
- Disturbances in the middle ear - pressure, fluid
- Damage to the inner ear and auditory nerve
- Temporary congestion when flying and diving
- Unilateral and bilateral congestion
Possible reasons
The most common causes are cerumen plug and dysfunction of the auditory tube in ARVI and allergic rhinitis. When flying with a stuffy nose, barotrauma can develop, and after swimming, water lingers in the ear canal or provokes otitis externa. In children with adenoids, exudative otitis media often occurs, in which fluid accumulates behind the membrane. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is manifested by a sharp decrease in hearing and congestion, sometimes with ringing and dizziness. Meniere's disease is characterized by attacks of congestion, noise and dizziness. Sometimes the feeling of fullness is associated with the temporomandibular joint.
- Sulfur plug
- Eustachitis with runny nose and allergies
- Barotrauma after flying or diving
- Water in the ear and otitis externa
- Exudative otitis media
- Sudden sensorineural hearing loss
- Meniere's disease
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
Associated symptoms
Associated symptoms suggest the cause. Congestion after a shower or bathing with a sharp decrease in hearing is characteristic of a swollen sulfur plug. Clicking and crackling sounds when swallowing, associated with a runny nose are signs of dysfunction of the auditory tube. Fluid transfusion when tilting the head occurs with exudative otitis media. Pain when pressing on the tragus and itching indicate otitis externa. If the hearing disappears suddenly, for example in the morning after sleep, there is no pain or runny nose, and the ear is clean upon examination, you need to think about sensorineural hearing loss. Dizziness and noise attacks are characteristic of Meniere's disease.
- Appears after swimming or showering
- Clicking when swallowing, runny nose
- Sensation of fluid transfusion
- Itching and pain in the ear canal
- Sudden hearing loss in the morning
- Ringing in the ear and attacks of dizziness
What examinations are needed
An ENT doctor examines the ear with an otoscope or endoscope and immediately excludes wax, water, swelling and changes in the eardrum. Tuning fork tests within a few minutes help to distinguish conductive hearing loss from sensorineural hearing loss. Tympanometry shows middle ear pressure and fluid, while pure-tone audiometry shows the degree and type of hearing loss. Examination of the nose and nasopharynx with an endoscope helps to find the cause of the malfunction of the auditory tube. For sensorineural hearing loss, especially unilateral, MRI is prescribed with a focus on the internal auditory canals.
- Otoscopy or endoscopy of the ear
- Tuning fork samples
- Tympanometry
- Pure-tone threshold audiometry
- Endoscopy of the nose and nasopharynx
- MRI of the internal auditory canals according to indications
What to do and how to treat it
If your ear is blocked on an airplane, swallowing, yawning, chewing and gently equalizing pressure with your nose pinched without straining can help. Water is removed from the ear by tilting the head and light movements of the auricle; There is no need to insert sticks into the ear. The doctor removes the wax plug. For eustachitis, runny nose and allergies are treated, and if necessary, the auditory tubes are blown out. Exudative otitis media that does not go away for months is treated by shunting the eardrum. In case of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, the doctor prescribes treatment with glucocorticosteroids as early as possible. All medications are selected by a specialist.
- Swallowing, yawning and chewing during pressure changes
- Removal of wax plug by a doctor
- Treatment of runny nose and allergic rhinitis
- Blowing and catheterization of auditory tubes
- Treatment of external and middle otitis
- Urgent treatment of sudden hearing loss
- Do not fly with a stuffy nose without consulting a doctor.
