Plugged ears, ear congestion, or feeling of ear pressure, are terms that generally indicate a subjective sensation of ear fullness affecting one or both ears. These symptoms, which occur frequently, are often associated with an alteration or a reduction in hearing ability, sometimes described as muffled hearing. It is important to specify that ear pressure and hearing loss are different phenomena, although they can coexist in numerous illnesses.
If you're feeling ear pressure without changes in altitude or air pressure, the cause is often internal—most commonly, an ear infection or Eustachian tube dysfunction. When this tube becomes blocked—due to a cold, allergy (such as hay fever), or mucus build-up—it can lead to a sensation of fullness, pressure, or a "closed ear" feeling.
Unlike pressure changes from flying or diving, this type of pressure often affects just one ear. Whether it’s one-sided or both, watch out for other common symptoms of infection:
Pressure in the ear is often an early warning sign of:
When you have a cold, the Eustachian tube—which helps balance air pressure in your ears—can become blocked due to mucus and inflammation. This blockage causes a build-up of pressure in the middle ear, leading to a feeling of fullness, discomfort, or muffled hearing.
Common symptoms alongside ear pressure include mild earache and a ‘blocked ear’ sensation. This usually clears as your cold improves.
How to relieve ear pressure during a cold:
If ear pressure continues after your cold, or if you experience severe pain, fever, or hearing loss, seek advice from a healthcare professional.
Ear pressure equalisation is the process by which your ears balance the air pressure between the middle ear and the external environment. This function is managed by the Eustachian tube (also known as the auditory tube), which opens when you swallow, yawn, or chew. When this tube is working properly, pressure inside the ear remains stable, allowing your eardrum to vibrate freely and maintain normal hearing.
However, if the tube becomes blocked—due to a cold, sinus infection, allergies or changes in altitude—you may feel a sensation of fullness, discomfort, or muffled hearing. Simple techniques like swallowing, performing the Valsalva manoeuvre, or using decongestant sprays may help restore balance and relieve symptoms.
Even in pressurised cabins like planes or high-speed trains, many people feel ear pressure—especially children. Earplugs can help by reducing pressure changes on the eardrum and preventing post-flight discomfort.
Avoid flying straight after swimming, as trapped water in the ear can increase the risk of ear infections, particularly in children. Swimming earplugs may help prevent this.
Try these simple techniques:
Protection is prevention. Amplifon puts at your disposal a whole range of "tailor-made" and standard earplugs that protect your hearing from exposure to loud noises, creating a real barrier between the auditory system and high-energy sound waves.
If there is no pressure, but your hearing performance becomes increasingly poor, there may be a completely harmless, simple cause: a clogged feeling in the ear and dull hearing can be caused by plugs of ear wax forming in the ear. A banal earwax plug affecting the external ear is perhaps the most frequent cause of pressure in the ear. The accumulation of ceruminous material and debris of the external auditory canal, when it causes a total closure of the canal, determines a consequent sensation of pressure in the ear and a reduction in hearing capacity. Hearing loss is transient because by removing the earwax, the hearing returns as it was previously.
To loosen the plug, rinses are available in pharmacies. Your ENT doctor can remove particularly firm clogs. A less harmless cause is stress. This can be a sign of an impending hearing loss or tinnitus. If you think you have ear pressure from stress, apply the emergency brake. Use relaxation techniques (e.g. autognes training) and treat yourself to rest.
Of course, a "real" hearing loss is also possible. To check your hearing performance. you can carry out a first hearing test online here. Alternatively, your Amplifon hearing care professional will be happy to carry out a non-binding precise hearing test in your nearest branch for free. Contact an ear, nose and throat doctor to determine the causes of the decreased hearing.
Constant pressure on the ears or one-sided constant pressure in the ear can indicate a tube closure or other diseases. In some cases, however, certain exercises (e.g. valsalva maneuvers) are enough to get rid of the pressure on the ears. A common cause is also a mostly harmless tube ventilation disorder: if the ear tube, (the eustachian tube) is too tight, this tube ventilation disorder can cause permanent pressure on the ears.
The doctor determines this using pain-free otoscopy (ear mirroring). The ear trumpet can be widened with a small operation, thereby greatly reducing the susceptibility to otitis media. A ventilation disorder in the ear creates a humid, warm climate in the middle and inner ear, in which viruses and bacteria can develop particularly well. If think that your ear pressure is not going away, do not hesitate to see an ENT doctor. In most cases, they can help you quickly and easily.
Discover more about hearing care professionals ENT Doctors and Audiologists.
In summary, sometimes home remedies such as chamomile tea and of course the techniques for pressure equalization are often sufficient for pressure on the ears. Decongestant nasal spray for ear pressure is particularly useful because it ensures the ventilation of the ear, relieving the pressure and making it difficult for germs to settle. The old wives' tale of putting nose drops in the ear is not recommended. Nose drops cause the mucous membrane to swell: there is no mucous membrane in the ear. This is where cleaning and germicidal agents have to work. There are ear sprays, ear drops or herbal drops in the pharmacy that can be taken. Discover more home remedies for earache on our blog.
An ear pressure test helps assess how well your ears can equalise pressure and identify any problems with the middle ear or Eustachian tube function. It is commonly used when you experience persistent ear pressure, discomfort, or hearing issues.
How Is the Test Performed?
The most common method is tympanometry, which measures the movement of your eardrum in response to changes in air pressure. This quick, painless test is done using a small device inserted gently into your ear canal.
Why Might You Need an Ear Pressure Test?
What Happens After the Test?
Your audiologist or ENT specialist will review the results and recommend appropriate treatment or further investigations if necessary.
If you’re experiencing ongoing ear pressure or discomfort, booking an ear pressure test at your nearest Amplifon clinic can help identify the cause and get you back to feeling your best.
Find out more about other hearing diseases and symptoms
