Fluid in the ear, often called Otitis Media with effusion or glue ear, occurs when liquid accumulates in the middle ear as a result of swelling or a blockage in the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the throat. Although anyone can get fluid in their ears, children are much more susceptible to it due to the fact that their auditory tube is smaller and more horizontal than that of an adult. In fact, 90 out of 100 children will experience fluid in their ears at some point before the age of 5 or 6.
The most causes of this, in both children and adults are allergies, congestion from a cold or other virus, enlarged sinus tissue, exposure to chemical irritants, previous damage to the auditory tube, a rapid change in ambient air pressure, or oral abnormalities, such as those associated with down syndrome or a cleft palate. If you suspect you or your child has something in their ear, its best to consult with a doctor, as it can often be hard to diagnose, although treatment is fairly simple, as the condition usually improves on its own. This type of ear condition may not cause the obvious symptoms, like drainage and severe pain, that are associated with an ear infection, but some of the most noticeable signs of it are loss of hearing, the feeling that the ear is full, loss of balance, and more.
1. Ear Pain
One common symptom of fluid in the ear is ear pain. The pressure caused by the buildup of liquid in the ear can cause pressure and pain in the ear. The pain in the ear is often worse when lying down and it may even come and go. It can sometimes take a couple weeks for fluid in the ear to clear out on its own. If the pain becomes too unbearable, over the counter medications can be used to help control it. Another way to remedy ear pain is by exposing your ear to heat or cold.
Some people prefer to use heat over cold, but others find alternating between the two extreme temperatures works best for managing pain. In addition, over the counter ear drops can also help reduce pain and pressure caused by liquid in the ear. Massaging the ear can also help soothe the pain, as certain massage techniques are known to help drain excess liquids from the ear to relieve pressure and prevent the pain in the ear from getting any worse. If none of this helps with the pain and it does not improve within a couple days, it is best to consult with a doctor.
2. Plugged Up Feeling
Obviously, if your ear is full of gunk, one of the most common symptoms is feeling like your ears are clogged or plugged. The pressure, if too extreme, can even cause headaches. There are a number of ways to help drain the fluid from your ears to help relieve pressure, but none are guaranteed to work. One of the most common treatments is a home steam treatment. To do this, you’ll need a large bowl of boiling water and a warm towel. Cover your head with the towel and hold your ear over the boiling water. You can add anti-inflammatory herbs to the water for added benefits. Just ensure you don’t stay under for much longer than 10 – 15 minutes.
3. Increased Altitude Change Discomfort
Everyone has felt some discomfort in their ears when they experience extreme or even subtle altitude changes, but when there’s fluid present in the ear, these discomforts can become much worse. When you have something in your ear, you are already feeling some pressure. A change in altitude, which causes more pressure, can cause a lot more discomfort in your ear. In some cases, extreme altitude changes can even cause fluid to develop in the ears. In fact, problems with the ear are perhaps the most common medical complaint from airplane travelers, who are experiencing extreme altitude changes in a short amount of time.
4. Tinnitus
Tinnitus is defined as the perception of noise or a ringing in the ears. Although it is not a condition itself, it is often a symptom of an underlying condition, such as a buildup of liquid in the ears. Although it can be annoying to be hearing sound when no sound is present, Tinnitus is not incredibly serious. Sounds heard may range in pitch and might be heard in one or both ears. Tinnitus can also be present constantly or it can come and go as a result of certain circumstances. If you believe you have fluid in your ear, the Tinnitus should improve once the fluid has drained.
5. Hearing Loss
Another symptom of this type of ear condition is hearing loss. When fluid clogs your ears, it’s not surprising that it would have an affect on your ability to hear. The gunk is blocking your ear and affecting your ability to hear. When young children have fluid in their ear, they will often complain of not being able to hear as well or say that sounds are more muffled than normal. This type of hearing loss isn’t usually permanent, and should improve once everything has drained from the ear, but a build up of substances in the ear can sometimes cause permanent hearing loss, so be sure to consult with your doctor if you are experiencing this symptom.
6. Loss of Balance
The ear actually plays an important role in helping you keep your balance when walking and doing other everyday activities. Inside of your ears are canals that contain liquids and very fine hairs that act as sensors to help you keep your balance. So, when the ear is full of fluid, it isn’t able to perform this function as well. As a result, loss of balance is a common symptom of ear problems. At the same time, fluid in the ear and feeling off-balance can also cause you to become dizzy. If you are experiencing severe loss of balance that is inhibiting your daily activities, it’s important to consult with your doctor immediately.
7. Fullness Feeling
If you have fluid clogging your ear, it’s probably going to feel like it’s full of something. This is because of the build up of pressure in the ear and the fact that your ear is actually full of liquid. Draining the fluid can help relieve this symptom and can be done using home remedies if you don’t wish to make a trip to the doctor just yet. If you’ve tried home remedies to drain your ear fluid but have not been successful, it is important to see a doctor to ensure that the fluid in your ear does not cause an infection later on.
8. Muffled Sounds
Similar to the symptom of hearing loss, you may notice that sounds appear more muffled than normal when your ear is full of fluid. You may be able to hear what people are saying, but noises and voices are muffled and seem to have a different pitch. This symptom is often associated with hearing loss and does improve once the fluid has drained from the ear. Be sure to consult with a specialist if you are noticing that you’re hearing muffled sounds for an extended period of time, as it may be the result of a more serious hearing problem.
