Woman trying to clear a clogged ear by shaking water out of it.

You try to swallow hard and yawn but it’s no use, your ears are clogged and you can’t do anything about it. You’ve attempted chewing gum, popping your ears, and opening your ear canal with your finger. Hoping your ears will just clear up on their own, eventually, you might just stop trying. And truthfully, you wouldn’t be wrong to try waiting a while to see if the situation goes away on its own unless, of course, you have pain, drainage, or other signs of an infection.

A small passageway that links the middle ear to the space behind the nose and controls the pressure that goes the ears, called the eustachian tube, will get clogged if it stays closed or open for overly long. You might hear a popping and crackling noise in your ears as this tube opens and closes when you swallow or yawn. Common hormonal changes cause the ear to remain open and viruses or ear infections will cause the ear to remain closed. It may take your ears a while to return to normal but both problems will recede over time.

Clogged ears can also be caused by a buildup of earwax. Ear treatment can eliminate this kind of clog, depending on the severeness, this can be at home or at the hearing professional. Here are a few suggestions when dealing with blocked ears:

Try Drops of Hydrogen Peroxide in Your Ear

Hydrogen peroxide, if correctly implemented, can dissolve earwax. Hearing professionals suggest that you mix the solution with warm water making certain that the water is not too hot and then putting a drop or two into your ear with a dropper. Your ear should be tilted upward while you place the drops in your ear and you should keep it that way for several seconds to allow the hydrogen peroxide to dissolve the earwax clog. Ultimately, the blockage should clear but you may need to repeat the process for a few days.

Don’t Stick Anything Inside Your Ear to Clean it

Seriously, this is worth repeating: never use a cotton swab to try and clean your ear, because you will only worsen the problem. Cotton swabs actually push earwax deeper into your ear canal, which can cause a total blockage. Actually, anything that is inserted in your ears may cause an earwax blockage, including hearing aids and earplugs. Cotton swabs should only be used on your outer ear in order to steer clear of blockage.

Treat Your Allergies

If you have allergies, it can cause a clogged ear to get worse. Always take your allergy medicines and follow your doctor’s directions on how to treat it. Avoid any unnecessary allergens, especially during allergy season.

Be Hesitant of Home Remedies That Sound Strange

You should not stick a lit candle in your ear which should go without saying. Ear candling is an old practice of sticking a hollow candle into your ear and lighting it which is very unscientific. The theory is that earwax is pulled into the hollow space in the candle when the heat of the flame causes a vacuum. This approach will probably cause more injury and probably won’t do any good. If something doesn’t sound correct, it most likely isn’t and it’s best to contact an expert. Don’t chance damaging your hearing by merely trying things.

You should call us if your ears don’t clear up. Permanent loss of hearing or a burst eardrum are the sorts of repercussions you could experience from inappropriate earwax removal.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.
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