What Causes A Clogged Ear?

Sinus Infection

A sinus infection is another condition that can cause a blockage in the Eustachian tube. Rather than draining the mucus and fluid, these things build up inside the middle of the ear, which can lead to clogging and difficulty hearing. A sinus infection, also referred to as sinusitis, often presents with very similar symptoms to the common cold. This occurs when the tissue that lines the sinuses becomes swollen or inflamed. When individuals are healthy, their sinuses have air inside them. However, when sick, they can become filled with fluid and blocked. This fluid and blockage can also trap germs, which leads to an infection. Sinus infections sometimes occur alongside the common cold. They can also occur as a result of allergic reactions, a deviated septum, or nasal polyps. There are a few different types of sinusitis. The acute version begins with cold-like symptoms and tends to last for between two and four weeks. The subacute version lasts between four and twelve weeks. Chronic sinusitis occurs when the symptoms last for at least twelve weeks.

Acoustic Neuroma

An acoustic neuroma is a type of benign growth that can lead to blockage of the ear. It develops between the inner ear and brain, on the nerve that connects these two parts of the body. The majority of acoustic neuromas are small and slow to grow. They don't necessarily cause problems at first, and many patients aren't even aware that they have them. As the neuroma becomes larger, though, it can increase the pressure against the nerves found in the inner ear, which can lead the ear to become clogged, so affected individuals have trouble hearing and deciphering what's going on around them. It can also lead to permanent hearing loss and tinnitus. About one in every fifty thousand individuals will develop an acoustic neuroma. There aren't many known risk factors regarding the condition. The only solidly known one is a parent has a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis 2. With that said, most of these tumors tend to be spontaneous.