Clogged ear is the feeling that the ear is full. Several conditions can cause clogged ears. Sometimes, clogged ear can interfere with hearing. Any hearing loss should be diagnosed by a physician as soon as possible to reduce the risk of permanent hearing loss.

A sensation of clogged ear can occur due to ceruminosis which is a buildup of hard wax in the ear. The ear wax can form a hard pug that can block hearing and muffle sound. The earwax plug can be removed by a physician or an ear wax removal kit. Removing ear wax should be done carefully. Sticking something into the ear to try to remove earwax can push the earwax deeper into the ear canal, scrape the ear canal, or damage the eardrum.

Glue ear is a condition that causes clogged ear. Glue ear is a condition in which fluid becomes trapped in the ear canal. The fluid can cause hearing loss. The thicker the fluid, the greater the hearing loss is. This fluid can often be drained by a physician in the doctor’s office.

Swimmer’s ear may also cause a feeling of clogged ear if the swimmer’s ear has caused swelling. Swimmer’s ear is an irritation, inflammation, or infection of the ear canal. The irritation has many possible causes including the use of soaps or shampoos or using headphones that have earpieces that fit into the ears. Swimmer’s ear is an external ear infection.

A middle ear infection may also cause clogged ear or muffled hearing. Middle ear infections are the most common cause of hearing loss in children. These infections should be medically treated to reduce the risk of permanent hearing loss.

People who have clogged ears may want to try using an ear wax removal kit. If removing ear wax does not restore hearing or eliminate the clogged feeling, the person should consult a physician. An earwax removal kit should not be used if the person may have a perforated eardrum.

If the person is experiencing hearing loss, the person should notify the physician for a proper diagnosis since many conditions can cause hearing loss. With prompt medical treatment, many cases of hearing loss can be medically treated.