Ears blocked - what should I do?

When your ears feel “blocked”, this can have a variety of causes and implications. Physical causes such as earwax, water in the ear after swimming, or infections can create a feeling of pressure or numbness in the ear and make it difficult to hear. For many people, it feels as though they have cotton wool in their ear. Pressure on the ear, for example when hiking in the mountains or on a plane, can also cause the ears to feel “blocked”.

There is therefore no clear-cut definition; instead, if your ears feel blocked, you should look for the causes.

Causes: Why are my ears blocked?

There are various reasons why your ears might feel blocked. These include blocked ears, or the sensation of blocked ears, and pressure in the ear.

• Pressure on the ears: Pressure on the ears or on one ear can feel as though your ears are blocked. The reason for ear pressure is usually a blocked Eustachian tube, also known as the auditory tube, for example due to earwax, infections or the equalisation of pressure differences. This causes the eardrum to bulge and creates pressure.

• Earwax: Although earwax is actually beneficial, as it naturally removes dirt and bacteria from our ears, too much earwax can cause the ears to become blocked.

• Foreign objects in the ear: If we suddenly hear less well on one side than the other, a foreign object in the ear may be to blame. Children, in particular, may be tempted by curiosity to put things such as a bead, a pea or similar objects into their ears. However, in rare cases, insects and small animals can also be the reason why our ear is blocked. Foreign objects in the ear should be avoided at all costs, as they can lead to injuries to the inner or middle ear.

• Water in the ear: When swimming, bathing or diving, water sometimes gets into the ear. Usually, this drains out of the ear on its own, but in some cases it can become trapped there, for example, if the water softens our earwax.

• Illnesses and ear conditions: Middle ear infections, ear canal infections, other infections, and even a simple cold can cause the ears to become blocked or ‘stuffed up’, leading to temporary hearing loss.

Allergies: Various allergies, such as a pollen allergy, a house dust mite allergy or an allergic reaction to animal hair, can trigger blocked ears.

How long does it take for a blocked ear to clear up?

The question of how long it takes for a blockage in the ear to clear can only be answered on an individual basis. This is because various factors, particularly the underlying cause, play a role.

If the issue is water in the ear or pressure on the ear, for example due to pressure equalisation, the ear can often ‘clear’ again after a short time.

However, if it is a middle ear infection, the blockage may last for one to two weeks. In such cases, whether and how the condition is treated is often a decisive factor.

Ears blocked - what to do? Tips and home remedies for blocked ears

The reasons for blocked ears can vary greatly, so the measures you can take yourself are also varied. Below, we have summarised a few tips and home remedies for you that can help in different situations when your ear is blocked, or to prevent a blocked ear.

• Proper ear hygiene: If you want to avoid blocked ears, you should definitely ensure proper ear hygiene. This includes gently cleaning your ears and protecting them from water and dirt by wearing earplugs in water or dusty environments.

• Cleaning your ears: Regular, gentle cleaning of the ears and outer ear can also prevent them from becoming blocked. The emphasis here is on ‘gentle’. Use a soft cloth or suitable products, but avoid using cotton buds, as these can block the ear canal with earwax or cause injury.

• Protection against infections: Protect yourself from infections in general by keeping your ears dry and preventing water and dirt from entering them.

• Managing allergies: To prevent your allergy from causing blocked ears, it is important to avoid allergens and, if necessary, take antihistamines.

• Equalising pressure: If you feel that your ear is blocked, it could also be ear pressure. In this case, equalising the pressure can help, for example by yawning, chewing or using the so-called Valsalva manoeuvre.

• Never insert foreign objects into the ear: Even if you feel an itch in your inner ear, remember: never scratch it with an object to avoid injuring the ear canal, eardrum, etc. Also, take particular care to ensure your children do not put foreign objects in their ears. Signs of this could include the child having earache or hearing less well.

Live healthily: As in almost all areas, the same applies to your ears: a healthy lifestyle, plenty of exercise and a balanced diet can help to promote your health.

Blocked ears: When should you see a doctor?

If your ears are blocked, this does not always have a serious cause. Often, the reasons are harmless, and the symptoms disappear on their own after a short time.

However, there are also situations where a visit to the doctor is necessary. Here are some cases where you should seek medical advice:

• Earache: Persistent earache is always a reason to see your ENT specialist, as it can be a sign of inflammation or an ear condition.

• Fever: A fever, especially a persistent or very high fever, is always a reason to consult a doctor. When accompanied by a blocked ear, a fever could indicate an infection or, for example, an ear infection.

• Dizziness or balance problems: You should also seek medical help immediately if you experience dizziness, positional vertigo or balance problems. These symptoms may indicate injuries or problems in the inner ear.

• Hearing loss: If you notice that your hearing loss is not improving or is actually getting worse, or if you experience hearing loss, this is also a reason to visit an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist.

• Persistent blockage: If the blockage in your ear does not clear up on its own even after a few days, and any measures you may have tried yourself have not helped, it is advisable to seek medical help.

• Pressure sensation: Ear pressure can have various causes, ranging from illness and pressure equalisation to blocked ears. If the pressure sensation does not go away after some time and even after measures such as yawning and chewing, you should see a doctor to determine the causes and discuss treatment.

Fluid discharge from the ear: If fluids such as blood or pus are coming out of the ear, this may be a sign of a possible condition or injury to the inner ear. In this case, you should also seek urgent medical advice.

What does the doctor do for blocked ears?

If a blockage in the ear does not clear up on its own and the tips and home remedies do not help, a visit to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist is necessary. They have various options and tools for cleaning or treating the condition. The ENT specialist can perform the following treatments:

• Professional ear cleaning: Professional ear cleaning may involve, for example, an ear irrigation. During this procedure, the doctor flushes the ear or ear canal using an ear syringe and a liquid to loosen and flush out the wax plug. Alternatively, the doctor uses special instruments to remove the earwax manually. In some cases, this also involves a suction device that carefully removes the cerumen from the ear.

• Medication: If the ear has become inflamed and earache occurs, medication is sometimes necessary. The doctor will determine the appropriate treatment based on the diagnosis.

Surgery: If the ears become blocked with earwax very frequently, for example because the ear canal is too narrow, surgery to widen the ear canal may be helpful.

Important: These treatments should only be carried out by doctors. Never attempt to remove the blockage yourself using any objects or sharp items, as this could potentially injure the ear.