Hay Fever Season is Upon us… Achoo!

The days are longer, it is warming up, flowers are blooming, and the smell of fresh cut grass lingers in the air.

Along with these wonderful Fever seasonal delights, perhaps you are also feeling congested, and your ears may be feeling blocked.

Your sinuses and your ears are connected inside your head and for some people, sinus issues may lead to their ears feeling blocked. Sinus congestion can affect the pressure in your middle ear and cause a blockage or feeling a full sensation.

This sensation can occur when the eustachian tube is not functioning well or it becomes obstructed. The eustachian tube is a small channel that connects the middle ear to the nose and sinuses. This tube equalises the pressure in your middle ear, behind the ear drum.

There are tests used to check that the pressure behind your eardrum is equal to the pressure in the atmosphere, outside of your ear. This test is called tympanometry. When this measurement shows that the pressure in the ear is too high or too low, this can be a sign that the eustachian tube is not working, or it is blocked. When the eustachian tube is not functioning well, you may experience fullness or pressure in your head.

What causes blocked Ears? Our ears can feel blocked for several reasons such as an ear wax excess, fluid build-up behind the eardrum, something stuck in the ear such as a cotton-bud or tip of an earphone, or a sudden hearing loss.

Unfortunately, when people experience blocked ears, they often have a “wait and see” approach to see if the ears unblock themselves. It is extremely important that the cause of the blocked or full sensation is investigated immediately and not left to “fix itself.” Hearing care professionals can complete several tests on your ears to identify what is causing your symptoms.

Blocked eustachian tubes can be caused by allergies, sinus infections or swelling from a recent cold. These conditions can cause fluid to collect in the middle ear. The pressure and fluid can cause pain in your ears or head. You may also experience muffled hearing, ear pain, ringing or popping noises in the ears as well as dizziness.

What to do if your Ears are blocked? If your ears are feeling blocked, it is important to see a local hearing care provider, such as Ear Studio. At Ear Studio, we can complete several tests to identify what is causing the blocked sensation in your ears.

If eustachian tube dysfunction is the cause for the blocked feeling you are experiencing, a nasal decongestant or nasal spray is often recommended. At Ear Studio, we can test your hearing, remove ear wax build-up, or refer you to the right specialists to get you on the path to clearing the blocked feeling from your ears! Call Ear Studio on (02) 9159 6122 or visit our website https://earstudio. com.au/ to make an appointment today.