The Top 11 Reasons Your Ear Feels Clogged

Have you ever had that uncomfortable feeling when your ear won't pop, and you’ve tried everything? You swallow and yawn repeatedly, but your hearing still feels muffled. Blocked or full ears are common, and it’s usually temporary. But if your ears feel clogged often, or the sensation doesn’t go away, it’s worth exploring the underlying cause. 

Why does my ear feel clogged?

There are several reasons your ears may feel clogged or plugged. Many are related to problems with the eustachian tube. The eustachian tube is a small structure that connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat. The middle ear is the part of the ear located between the brain and the eardrum.

The eustachian tube opens when you yawn, sneeze, and swallow. This stops pressure from building up inside the middle ear. But when the tube is irritated, swollen, or narrowed, it can’t open as well to do its job. 

The most common reason for eustachian tube constriction is inflammation. Less commonly, the eustachian tube may have a growth or an abnormal shape.

Some people are more likely to have problems with their eustachian tubes. For example, children have shorter eustachian tubes than adults. And a shorter tube is more likely to get blocked or infected. Also, people who smoke are more likely to get a buildup of mucus in their eustachian tubes.

There are also causes of clogged ears that have nothing to do with the eustachian tube at all, like earwax, swimmer’s ear, or hearing loss.

Let’s take a closer look at 11 common reasons for clogged ears, as well as treatment options.

1. Upper respiratory tract infections, including COVID-19

Many types of upper respiratory infections — including common respiratory viruses and COVID-19 — can cause inflammation in the nose and sinuses. This swelling of the lining of the upper airways can also affect the eustachian tubes. 

This is why people with an upper respiratory tract infection may experience:

• Ear pressure

• Ear fullness

• Muffled sounds

• Ear pain

2. Allergic rhinitis (seasonal and environmental allergies)

Seasonal allergies — and allergies to other irritants — are another common cause of nasal and sinus congestion. People with nasal allergies have long-lasting swelling of the upper airways, including in their sinuses. This can lead to short- or long-term eustachian tube problems. 

3. Otitis media (infection in the middle ear)

Fluid from the throat or sinuses can travel up the eustachian tubes and get stuck. This can cause otitis media, a middle ear infection. Otitis media is quite common in young children. 

Swelling from allergies and viruses makes it even more likely that otitis media will occur. Fluid in the ear can also build up after an ear infection has passed. Either way, when the middle ear is full of fluid, it can feel clogged.

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4. Sinusitis (sinus infection)

When fluid builds up in the sinuses, bacteria and other germs can grow there and cause a sinus infection. This causes swelling, which prevents air and fluid from passing through the system normally. When the infection and swelling extend into the eustachian tube, your ears can feel blocked.

5. Eustachian tube dysfunction

Sometimes, the problem is the eustachian tube itself. Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) usually happens for structural reasons, such as the eustachian tube being too narrow or being too floppy to stay open properly. This dysfunction prevents the pressure inside the middle ear from matching the pressure outside. 

ETD can lead to symptoms such as:

• A feeling of fullness in the ears

• Popping noises in the ears

• Hearing loss

• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

• Ear pain

• Dizziness

• Autophony (when your own voice sounds extra loud to you)

6. Pregnancy and other hormonal causes

High levels of the hormone estrogen can cause swelling of the eustachian tube. This is common in pregnancy, but it can also happen with some contraceptive pills. Eustachian tube swelling can also be a side effect of some hormone-blocking prostate cancer treatments. 

7. Altitude changes

Altitude changes — like with air travel or scuba diving — can cause plugged ears. This is especially true for people with underlying eustachian tube problems. It happens because pressure changes too quickly for the ears to be able to equalize. 

8. Otitis externa (swimmer’s ear)

Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear canal. It causes inflammation and swelling in the part of the ear canal you can see with a flashlight.

Like its name suggests, swimmer’s ear often occurs after swimming, showering, or playing water sports. Water in the outer ear can irritate the skin and allow bacteria or fungi to grow in the outer ear canal. In addition to being painful, if the ear canal becomes swollen, it can also feel plugged.

9. Earwax

Some earwax (cerumen) is normal and healthy. But when too much earwax builds up in the outer ear, it can get impacted or blocked. This can cause muffled hearing and a feeling of fullness in the ear. Earwax impaction (when earwax is lodged in the ear canal) is common, affecting up to 5% of healthy adults.

You may be able to safely remove earwax at home with ear drops or irrigation. But a healthcare professional — like your primary care provider — may be a better choice. They can use a special scope to look inside the ear and safely remove the earwax. 

Although it may be tempting, using Q-tips (cotton swabs) to clean out your ears can damage the eardrum or ear canal. Q-tips can also push earwax farther into your ear. 

10. Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD)

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) affect the muscles and joints of the jaw. Often, the cause is bruxism (teeth grinding). While pain or clicking in the jaw are the most common symptoms, people with TMD sometimes experience ear fullness and pain. 

A variety of treatments are available to help manage TMD.

11. Hearing loss

Ear fullness or a sensation of “stuffiness” can be a symptom of true hearing loss — also called sensorineural hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is caused by damage to the inner parts of the ear or the auditory nerve. It usually comes on gradually with age, but it can also happen in younger people. Hearing loss that happens suddenly can be one sign of a bigger problem.

Causes of hearing loss include:

• Some viral infections

• Exposure to sudden, loud noises

• Head injuries

• Autoimmune inner ear disease

• Meniere’s disease

• Stroke

If you have sudden or new hearing loss, visit your primary care provider right away.

How to unclog your ears

Clogged ears often improve on their own over time. But there are many treatment options available, depending on the cause.

What to do if your ears won’t pop and you feel constant pressure?

Typically, clogged ears will ease up within a few days. Symptoms may last a little longer if you have a head cold, COVID infection, or allergies. But if clogged ears continue longer, it may be time to see a healthcare professional about your treatment options.

Although serious problems are rare, growths or tumors can sometimes occur in the eustachian tube or on the nerves around it. These problems might not show other symptoms right away, so it’s important to get a medical opinion if your clogged ears don’t get better over time.

Get medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms: 

• Ear pain

• Fever

• Ear discharge

• Ear ringing

• Hearing loss

• Problems with balance or vertigo

• Clogged ears that don’t get better after a few days

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Written by:

Kerry R. McGee, MD, FAAP

Kerry McGee, MD, FAAP, has over a decade of experience caring for babies, children, and teenagers as a primary care pediatrician. She has a special interest in adolescent health, particularly in adolescent mental health.

Edited by:

Meredith Hoffa

Meredith Hoffa is a senior health editor at GoodRx, where she leads journalists and clinicians covering various well-being topics, particularly in diet and nutrition.

Reviewed by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

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