Muffled hearing in one ear is a common hearing problem. This impairment causes a decrease in effectiveness of hearing. Muffling decreases the intensity of the sound and also causes the sound to become less intense. The quality of sound decreases and this problem can be overcome with the use of a hearing aid.
There are many different causes that may lead to muffled hearing in one ear. The cause of the problem needs to be treated to overcome the muffling in the ear. Wax present in the ear is the main cause of this problem. The amplitude of the sound entering the ear is usually reduced by the wax that plugs the ear. The simple remedy for this problem is to remove the wax and the muffling will disappear and the person will be able to become normal again.
There could also be an infection in the ear which leads to the muffling in one ear. The presence of this condition is commonly called as glue ear and is medically known as otitis media. Middle ear is the place where this infection occurs. The disease causes the entrapment of fluid in the ear which decreases the sounds that are heard by the person. There could also be infections present in the other parts of the ear, which could also lead to muffling of one ear.
Similar hearing loss can be caused by swelling in the ear. The presence of swelling decreases the area of air entry in the ear. This causes the person to suffer from a decrease in the ability to hear. If antibiotics are used regularly, it will reduce the infection as well as the swelling.
The muffling in the ear can also be caused by the damage to the ear drum. There are many mechanisms that cause injury to the ear drum and the extent of muffling in the ear depends on the amount of damage that has occurred in the ear drum. The presence of any benign or malignant tumor can also cause the muffling in the ear which has been affected.
Those who are suffering from muffling in the ear need to immediately visit a physician to get the condition rectified. Simple treatment will resolve the condition. Hearing aids are the best remedy for those who suffer from muffled hearing, especially if it causes permanent hearing loss.