Because we rely on our sense of hearing almost as much as we do our vision, it can be scary when your sense of hearing starts to weaken. Whether this diminished ability happens gradually or suddenly, it’s essential that you take the proper course of action to diagnose the cause and get yourself on the right treatment regimen. Keep reading to answer the question “why is my hearing muffled” and get advice on treatment options!
Muffled hearing, or sensorineural hearing loss, is a difficulty hearing that occurs when sound waves have trouble passing through the inner ear. This may happen for any number of reasons, and may or may not require treatment.
There are many reasons that you may be experiencing muffled hearing. Because muffled hearing is a symptom of many conditions with varying severity, it’s important that you can self-identify a problem and act accordingly.
Depending on the cause of your muffled hearing, it might last only a few seconds or minutes. However, some conditions may result in a recurring sense of hearing loss. If you fear that what you are experiencing will not go away on its own, then you should seek medical attention.
In many cases, a muffled ear will go away on its own. This is especially true for conditions like airplane ear, or sickness-related hearing loss. Even certain ear infections will resolve themselves if given time, but there are some instances where you should not wait to seek medical treatment. If you have not experienced relief in several weeks, think you may have a clogged ear from a foreign object, or have bloody drainage from the affected ear, don’t wait to see a medical professional. This may be indicative of a far more serious problem.
At Village Emergency Centers, no concern is too small. We understand that your ears are a sensory organ essential to your day-to-day life, and we want to ensure that they stay healthy for many years to come. If you still find yourself asking the question “why is my hearing muffled” or you have experienced sudden hearing loss, visit us today! We’ll get to the bottom of your difficulty hearing and work out a treatment plan together.
Hortencia Luna-Gonzales, MD, FACEP
Dr. Luna has been practicing Emergency Medicine and Pediatric Emergency Medicine for more than 37 years. She has held multiple Physician leadership positions as the Medical Director for Emergency and Trauma Services for more than 20 hospital systems in both California and Texas.