What causes muffled hearing? There are a number of reasons why your hearing may be muffled. Impacted wax, ear infection, sinus blockage or infection, Meniere’s disease, temporary hearing loss from exposure to loud noise, and hearing loss are just a few causes.
Wax impaction can cause a temporary muffled sensation that should be resolved once the wax has been removed. Sinus infections or ear infections may cause the Eustachian tube (tube from the middle ear to the back of the throat) to swell/plug up. Treating these conditions should improve the hearing. Meniere’s disease is a condition that causes vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss/muffled hearing, and sometimes tinnitus.
Age related hearing loss comes on very slowly over many, many years. Sometimes people complain that speech is muffled or that people are mumbling. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a very sudden loss of hearing, typically in one ear. It is very important to see a medical doctor immediately if you experience SSNHL because the sooner treatment begins, the better the chance of recovery.
If you are experiencing muffled hearing, see a doctor of audiology team for a hearing evaluation. The first step will be to look into your ear canals to see if there is any blockage. Then a trip into the sound booth to test your hearing. Once we have determined if there is hearing loss and where the hearing loss is coming from, then we can make specific recommendations for how to treat the problem.
If you have hearing loss, or think you may, call Gardner Audiology today to schedule an appointment at one of our 8 locations. Call 800-277-1182 or email info@gardneraudiology.com today! You can also schedule online at www.gardneraudiology.com
