5 Ways To Unclog Your Plugged Up Ears | Ear Problems

Looking for ways to unclog your plugged up ears naturally? Dr. Cliff Olson, Audiologist and founder of Applied Hearing Solutions in Anthem Arizona, discusses 5 tricks that you can use to unclog your ears.

Ears can become clogged for a variety of reasons. Most commonly, this is due to air pressure changes in the environment from changing elevation while driving or flying. However, there are a number of different reasons that your ears can feel clogged including having a sinus infection or something even more serious.

This clogged sensation is often caused by your Eustachian Tube not opening and passing air through to your middle ear space. This causes a negative pressure that gives you the perception of clogged ears and sometimes pain. Swallowing typically opens the Eustachian Tube, but doesn't work all of the time.

Getting your ears to unclog can be difficult for some individuals. Here are 5 ways you can unclog your ears when swallowing isn't enough.

1. Valsalva Maneuver - This is where you simply plug your nose and try to blow air out of it.

2. Lowry Method - This is where you combine the Valsalva Maneuver with swallowing at the same time.

3. Yawning - Sometimes simply yawning will open the Eustachian Tube just enough to let air pass through.

4. Having someone blow in your nose - Forcing air through your nose while swallowing can push air through your Eustachian Tube, however this can be dangerous if a person is doing it...and it's gross!

5. Using the Eustachi - The Eustachi is a tool that gently pushes air through your nostril while you swallow. This pushes air through the Eustachian Tube gently and can unclog even the most stubborn ears.

If these methods don't work there could be other reasons for your clogged ears.

1. Earwax impaction - This is where earwax plugs up your outer ear.

2. Fluid - If your middle ear is filled with fluid, you may need medical treatment to fix it. One option is to have Pressure Equalization (PE) tubes inserted into your eardrum.

3. Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL) - This condition is very serious and often only gives the perception of being clogged in one ear. Treatment of this condition is extremely time sensitive and you should see an Audiologist immediately.

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[DrCliffAuD]

What is your favorite way to unclog your ears?

[karinarodgers_]

Having my ear clogged and not being able to hear makes me feel really sad for deaf people.. I’m really grateful that I can hear

[dagnastyodi]

I'm having a horrible time right now. i sincerely hope that your ear instantly unclogs the moment you read this.

[jitmukherjee]

Hey I had clogged ear for 2 weeks.

Some tips:
1. Go in ☀️. It is a possibility that you are having cold.

2. Do the exercise that is in this video

3. Wait. Be composed and calm. You will get back your hearing ability after few days. It's absolutely fine.

I pray that you get better soon.
Hare Krishna

[riptideblueiceandonly]

It’s a blessing to be able to have relief and hear when your Eustachian tube clogs up! I have fluid on my eardrum after a bad case of the flu, and it made it to where I had pressure on my left ear, a feeling of fullness and conductive hearing loss…always be GRATEFUL and THANKFUL that you can hear, see, observe, eat, drink, bathe and shower on your own. Life is good.

[thembangwenya]

May your ear open up in the name of Jesus Christ!! Amen!!

[weynaaaafs]

Earlier i was freaking out, it feels like my anxiety attacks me because i have right ear clogged but when i read the comments i suddenly feel ease because i realize im not the only one who experiencing this and theycare about us so im better now and hoping that my clogged right ear will go away.

[MrMongoose]

I really took having unclogged ears for granted 😭

[duchessfourth]

I'm pretty sure most of us are here because of our clogged left ear😹😹

[carikshawn]

Here I am 8 months after my first comment....both ears last week clogged and I've been doing your first 2 techniques and today, got back on since my left ear refused to open, did your 2nd technique and IT OPENED...I THINK I LOVE YOU so thanks for these tips.

[xsheri_]

Omg thank you so much! My left ear has been clogged for two weeks and I tried the second method and I’m literally now my hearing is almost back at 100% 🤩🙏🏾

[tylerma]

wow its like I found a family in the comment section

[galaxy_stay]

I love this comment section, it feels like a family. A family of people with blocked ears

[mtaylor]

This was so helpful! My 8 yr old woke up not able to hear out of either ear, our entire family this cold. Your first technique worked after several times on both ears. Had to wade through a lot of terrible advice before getting to your videos. One other thing. One video said that if you hum and it feels louder in your ear with the hearing loss that's a way to tell that it's not a serious issue which others might find helpful as well. Thanks again for the info

[stephanielatourell]

I was suffering from clogged ears cause of the flue and just did number 2 and it worked instantly. Thank you

[xerta]

I’m watching this with a left ear clogged and my right is sittin there chillin

[nadeemmirza]

Who all are watchibg this video with ear cloged😂

[BrentTech]

Just came here to say you helped save my hearing. I found this video when trying to figure out why my ear just "shut off" 50% of my hearing on my left side... Your tag at the end to see a doc in case it was SSHL was what I needed to "hear" for sure. I was at my PCP 3 days after the loss who started me on steroids... 5 days later I was at an ENT who did a full eval and confirmed SSHL. I had the steroid shot in my eardrum and happy to say 2 weeks later my hearing has nearly returned to normal. Only a slight remnant of loss remains. Super thankful for your video! Doc told me she was treating 2 other patients that have been without hearing for 4 months due to SSHL that came in too late for treatment. I don't go to the doc often... glad I did this time instead of figuring it'd pass. 1 in 5, 000 people experience SSHL every year... not the lottery I wanted to win, but hey, at least I overcame it! Thanks again!

[alexiaholiday]

I overreacted about having a clogged left ear, I debated that there was some ear wax stuffed near to my eardrum. I finally came up with an idea that my ear was clogged because I had a cold over the weekend and it has happened before for a day, so I think that is what is happening. I think everyone gets this its okay if you do, you're not alone dear♥️

[bxlbi]

lmao, everyone watching this can only hear with one ear