What Is Aural Fullness?
Aural fullness describes the feeling that your ear is blocked, stuffed, or under pressure. It often feels like your ear is clogged with water, wax, or air and can be accompanied by other symptoms such as:
- Mild to moderate ear pain or discomfort
- Hearing muffled sounds or reduced hearing clarity
- A sensation of pressure or popping inside the ear
- Ringing or buzzing sounds (tinnitus)
- Occasional dizziness or imbalance
In many cases, the blocked feeling settles once the underlying cause has been treated. However, persistent or returning symptoms should always be investigated rather than ignored.
Causes of Aural Fullness and Ear Blockage
Understanding the root cause is important and will help you receive the treatment you need.
Common causes include:
Earwax (Cerumen) Build-up: Earwax protects the ear canal but excess or impacted wax is a frequent cause of blockage and fullness, leading to muffled hearing.
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD): The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat, equalising ear pressure. Allergies, colds, sinus infections, or changes in altitude (such as flying or diving) can cause it to malfunction, resulting in pressure buildup and fullness. Learn more about blocked ears and Eustachian tube dysfunction on Healthify.
Middle Ear Infections (Otitis Media): Infections can cause fluid accumulation behind the eardrum, leading to pain, fullness, and hearing loss.
Barotrauma (Pressure-Related Ear Pain): Sudden changes in air pressure, commonly experienced during air travel or scuba diving, can cause ear discomfort and fullness due to rapid pressure shifts.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders: Problems with the jaw joint can sometimes cause ear fullness and discomfort due to its close proximity to the ear canal.
Less common causes include:
- Foreign objects in the ear
- Eustachian tube blockage from nasal polyps or swelling
- Ménière’s disease (an inner ear disorder)
- Acoustic neuroma (a rare, benign tumour)
How Is Aural Fullness Diagnosed?
Your audiologist or healthcare provider will begin with a detailed review of your medical history and symptoms. They may perform:
Otoscopy: Visual examination of the ear canal and eardrum.
Audiometry: Hearing tests to assess any hearing loss.
Tympanometry: A quick, painless test that measures how well your eardrum moves and whether pressure or fluid is present in the middle ear.
Nasal examination: To check for blockages affecting the Eustachian tube.
Imaging: Rarely, CT or MRI scans if a tumour or structural problem is suspected.
If earwax is the culprit, professional removal is typically a straightforward process. If infection or Eustachian tube dysfunction is involved, further medical treatment will be planned.
Coping Strategies and Treatment Options
Here are practical steps to relieve aural fullness and ear blockage.
At Home
- Avoid inserting objects into the ear canal (e.g. cotton swabs) as this can worsen blockage or damage the ear.
- Apply a warm compress to the affected ear to alleviate discomfort.
- Try gentle jaw exercises or yawning to help open the Eustachian tube.
- Consider using over-the-counter saline nasal sprays to relieve nasal congestion.
How to use nasal sprays correctly
If your blocked ear is related to allergies, a cold, or Eustachian tube dysfunction, a saline or medicated nasal spray may help reduce swelling around the Eustachian tube. However, the way you use the spray can make a big difference.
For the best results:
- Tuck your chin gently towards your chest.
- Block one nostril.
- Aim the spray slightly outwards towards the outside wall of your nose.
- As you spray, breathe in gently through your mouth, not your nose.
Many people instinctively sniff through their nose after using a nasal spray, but this can reduce how well the medication reaches the area it’s intended to treat.
If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, you should not use decongestants without the approval of your healthcare provider.
When Flying or Diving
If you’re experiencing ear pressure while flying:
- Swallow, yawn, or chew gum during take-off and landing.
- Try gentle pressure equalisation techniques, such as the Valsalva manoeuvre (gently blowing with the nose pinched) if you’ve been shown how to do it correctly.
- Stay well hydrated.
Some people also find EarPlanes® earplugs helpful. These are specially designed filtered earplugs designed to slow the change in air pressure and reduce discomfort during flights. You can find them at most pharmacies and travel stores for around $12-$15. Shop EarPlanes earplugs.
If you have a heavy cold, sinus infection, or significant ear blockage, it’s worth speaking with your GP before travelling. Flying with severe congestion can make pressure changes more uncomfortable and, in rare cases, increase the risk of damage to the eardrum.
Medical Treatments
- Earwax removal by a professional using microsuction or irrigation.
- Medications such as nasal steroids or decongestants for allergies or sinus issues. Antibiotics are used if an infection is present.
- Referral to specialists if symptoms persist or worsen despite initial treatment.
When to See a Health Professional
Seek medical attention as soon as possible if you experience:
- Severe ear pain
- Sudden or significant hearing loss
- Persistent fullness lasting more than a few days
- Discharge or bleeding from the ear
- Dizziness or balance problems
Don’t ignore sudden symptoms
If the feeling of pressure or fullness comes on suddenly, especially if it’s accompanied by a noticeable drop in hearing in one ear, seek urgent medical attention. This may be a sign of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) - a medical emergency which requires assessment and treatment within 72 hours.
FAQs
We frequently get asked questions about Aural Fullness and have put the following FAQs together:
The sensation typically arises when normal pressure regulation in your ear is disrupted, often due to blocked Eustachian tubes, earwax build-up, or fluid in the middle ear. This pressure imbalance leads to that “plugged up” feeling.
Although blocked ears are commonly caused by earwax or pressure changes, a sudden blocked sensation together with a noticeable loss of hearing can sometimes be a sign of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL). This is a medical emergency, so seek urgent assessment if these symptoms occur.
Yes, allergies can cause inflammation and congestion in the nasal passages and throat, which can block or impair the function of the Eustachian tube. This leads to pressure imbalance and a feeling of fullness in the ear.
Changes in air pressure during take-off and landing can affect the Eustachian tube and cause your ears to feel blocked. Swallowing, yawning, chewing gum, staying hydrated, and using EarPlanes® earplugs may help reduce discomfort and make it easier for your ears to equalise pressure.
Resonate. The Podcast
Kia Ora, my name is Ellen, and I have been an audiologist in New Zealand for over ten years, with eight years dedicated to the Manawatu community.
