Blocked ears can be caused by earwax buildup, ear infections, foreign objects, allergies, sinus infections, and injuries. Symptoms include hearing loss, pain, dizziness, and balance disturbances. Medical treatment is recommended if symptoms last for more than 24 hours or are accompanied by other symptoms.
Blocked ear symptoms can occur for a variety of reasons, including earwax buildup in the ear canal or fluid buildup from an ear infection. Foreign objects can cause blocked ear symptoms if they get lodged inside the ear. Allergies, sinus infections, and even problems with the temporomandibular joint can cause the ear to feel blocked. Injuries to the ear, particularly from sudden changes in air pressure, can also cause ear blockage symptoms. In some cases, Eustachian tube dysfunction can be responsible for feelings of blockage in the ear.
The most common symptom of ear blockage may be hearing loss. Depending on the cause of the ear blockage, pain, discharge, dizziness, and balance disturbances may occur. In some cases, blocked ears can bleed.
Most people experience blocked ear symptoms because an underlying cause — such as an infection, earwax buildup, injury, or a foreign object — is limiting the body’s ability to regulate pressure in the middle ear, the part beyond the eardrum and ear canal. Allergies, sinus infections, and colds can cause fluid to build up in the Eustachian tube, the tube that runs between the middle ear and the back of the throat. When this tube malfunctions, the body cannot adequately regulate middle ear pressure and sensations of ear blockage can occur. Eustachian tube deformities or lesions in the Eustachian tubes can lead to similar symptoms.
Infections, foreign bodies, and earwax plugs can cause the ear to feel blocked. Foreign objects or wax plugs can block the ear canal, causing abnormal middle ear pressure. Impaired hearing can occur because the foreign body or wax plug can block sounds from reaching the middle and inner ear. Ear infections can cause fluid to build up in the ear canal or middle ear. This can lead to pressure imbalances within the ear and can prevent sound waves from entering the middle and inner ear.
If blocked ear symptoms last for more than 24 hours or are accompanied by pain, fever, bleeding, or other symptoms, medical treatment is usually recommended. Patients are generally cautioned against trying to remove wax plugs or foreign objects from the ear canal without a doctor’s help. Untreated ear infections and injuries can cause serious and permanent hearing damage.
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