Hampton is no stranger to winter storms. When the weather gets colder, we tend to spend more time indoors. While that extra time inside can feel cozy, it can also increase your risk of catching a cold due to closer contact with others.
That increased risk of colds is one reason why you may notice more muffled hearing in the winter.
How Do Colds Relate to Hearing?
When you develop a cold, your body produces excess mucus, and the sinuses become inflamed. The combination of that extra mucus and inflammation can block the Eustachian tubes, which connect the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat. When functioning correctly, the tubes equalize pressure and drain fluid from the ear.
When the Eustachian tubes are inflamed, they’re more likely to clog. When they’re clogged, fluid builds up in the middle ear, blocking the normal path of sound and leading to muffled hearing. You may notice additional symptoms, including:
- Feeling of fullness in the ear
- Ear pain
- Tinnitus
Your cold might affect one or both ears.
Is the Muffled Hearing Permanent?
Muffled hearing due to a physical blockage in the ear, a condition called conductive hearing loss, is almost always temporary and should clear with the infection. While rare, prolonged inflammation can increase your risk of permanent hearing loss and damage the eardrum. There’s usually nothing to worry about, but you should seek audiology or ENT care if muffled hearing persists longer than a couple of weeks or you experience severe ear pain or dizziness.
Can I Prevent Cold-Related Muffled Hearing?
If you develop a cold, the best way to protect your hearing is to stay hydrated, take decongestants for a couple of days and get plenty of rest.
Minimizing your risk of developing frequent colds is also crucial. Take the following steps to slow the spread of germs:
- Clean frequently touched surfaces in your home and workplace
- Don’t share food or drinks
- Wash your hands frequently, especially before eating or after using the restroom
- Carry a travel hand sanitizer for when you don’t have a place to wash your hands
- Avoid close contact with sick individuals
- Consider wearing a mask if you’re unsure if someone is sick
- Teach proper hand washing to your children to help them avoid cold germs at school
If you experience long-lasting muffled hearing, tinnitus or earache, reach out to Hampton Roads ENT ~ Allergy today to schedule a consultation with one of our specialists.