Queensland winters are famously mild by most standards, but that does not stop cold and flu season from making its rounds across the Redcliffe Peninsula and Moreton Bay region each year. And along with the stuffy nose and scratchy throat, many people experience something that can be genuinely unsettling — ears that feel blocked, muffled, or full, as though they are underwater.
For most people, this clears up on its own within a week or two. But for others, it can linger longer than expected — or draw attention to a hearing change that was already quietly underway.
Here is what is typically going on, and when it makes sense to seek some help.
Why Do Ears Feel Blocked During a Cold?
It could be influenced by several things, a comprehensive hearing assessment can usually help us understand this better. However, a common cause is changes in the Eustachian tube — a small passage that connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat. Its job is to equalise air pressure on either side of the eardrum and to drain fluid from the middle ear.
During a cold or upper respiratory infection, the lining of the Eustachian tube can swell as part of your body's response to the virus. When this tube is not functioning properly, pressure can build up in the middle ear, and fluid may accumulate behind the eardrum. The result is that familiar sensation of fullness, muffled sound, or a slight echo on your own voice.
This is not a sign that your ears are permanently damaged, but it should be assessed. In many cases, as congestion settles, the tube opens again and pressure equalises naturally.
What About Muffled Hearing That Does Not Seem to Shift?
Again this can be due to several factors, however if your ears still feel blocked a few weeks after your cold has resolved, it is worth getting checked. Occasionally, fluid in the middle ear (sometimes called "glue ear") can persist longer than expected. An audiologist can assess whether there is ongoing middle ear involvement and will report to a doctor who can administer the appropriate next steps.
It is also worth being aware that a period of muffled or reduced hearing during a cold can sometimes reveal a pre-existing hearing change that was previously going unnoticed. If your hearing feels noticeably different from how it was before the cold, even after your congestion has cleared, that observation is worth raising with an audiologist.
Finally, if you notice a sudden change in hearing it should be reviewed by your doctor or an Audiologist as soon as possible. In some cases of sudden hearing changes rapid intervention is of the utmost importance. If you have experienced a sudden change in hearing please contact Hearing Help and advise the staff when booking so we can arrange an urgent appointment.
How can an Audiologist evaluate ear fullness?
A full hearing assessment is the first step. The equipment that the audiologists at Hearing Help use provides more comprehensive understanding than a standard hearing test. Different assessments are performed for different cases and only performed when clinically indicated/appropriate. For example we start with video otoscopy - then you can see down the ear canal! You will see if the problem is caused by wax or if the eardrum is red - even in some cases when there is an abnormality like a perforation. Then we use a standard assessment called tympanometry, which is a measure of the middle ear functioning. It helps us understand if the person has abnormal middle ear involvement - the types of results that can occur with various conditions like a Eustachian tube dysfunction, perforation or ear infection. At Hearing Help we like to add an additional assessment called Eustachian tube dysfunction test, this is tympanometry in several conditions such as swallowing water or doing the Valsalva maneuver. We then move onto a full hearing test, especially evaluating if there is a conductive hearing loss - something blocking the sound from getting in. This may sound complicated but the audiologist will explain all the results to you with pictures and graphs so you fully understand the outcomes. It is important to note that an audiologist tests these conditions but it is a doctor (General Practitioner or Ear, Nose and Throat specialist) who treats these conditions, so one of the most important initial steps is an assessment and a comprehensive doctors report.
Does Earwax Play a Role?
Yes, it can. Earwax is a normal and useful substance — it is the ear's natural self-cleaning mechanism. However, some people produce more earwax than others, or their earwax is drier and more likely to accumulate rather than migrate out naturally.
During and after a cold, if you are blowing your nose frequently or the ear canal is slightly more irritated than usual, you may notice earwax-related symptoms more acutely. Blocked, muffled, or reduced hearing that does not seem linked to congestion at all may simply be a wax issue.
The important thing to know here is that cotton buds are not a safe or effective solution. They tend to push wax deeper into the canal, which can worsen blockage and, in some cases, cause discomfort. If you suspect earwax is contributing to muffled hearing, a clinician-performed earwax removal procedure — such as microsuction — is a far safer approach.
What Is Microsuction?
Microsuction is a technique used by trained clinicians to safely remove earwax using gentle suction. It does not involve water being flushed into the ear, which makes it suitable for a wider range of patients, including those with perforated eardrums or previous ear surgery.
If you have been experiencing muffled hearing that you think may be wax-related, this is something our team at Hearing Help can assess and address.
When Should You See Someone About Your Ears After a Cold?
As a general guide, it is worth contacting a clinician if:
You have a sudden or significant change in hearing, particularly in one ear
You are experiencing ear pain that is not settling
You notice new ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus)
You have had recurrent ear infections or known ear conditions in the past
Your ears still feel blocked or muffled more than two to three weeks after your cold symptoms have resolved
Sudden hearing changes in one ear in particular can occasionally indicate something that warrants prompt attention — if this happens to you, it is best not to wait and see.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can flying during a cold make blocked ears worse? Changes in cabin pressure during flights can exacerbate Eustachian tube dysfunction, particularly when you are already congested. If you are unwell and need to fly, it is worth speaking with your GP beforehand.
Is it normal for ears to feel blocked without a cold? Yes. Earwax, allergies, sinus congestion, and other factors can all cause a feeling of ear fullness without a cold being present. If you are experiencing persistent ear pressure or muffled hearing without an obvious cause, a hearing assessment is a sensible step.
Will microsuction hurt? Most people find microsuction comfortable and straightforward. There may be a brief sensation of pressure or moderately loud sounds from the suction. Your clinician will check your ear canal beforehand and talk you through what to expect.
Can a blocked ear from a cold affect my existing hearing aids? Yes. If you wear hearing aids and you are experiencing middle ear or wax-related changes, your devices may not perform as expected during this period. It is worth letting your audiologist know so they can assess whether any temporary adjustments are useful.
Still Feeling Blocked After Winter?
Most cases of cold-related ear fullness resolve without intervention. But if your ears are still not feeling right, or if you are not sure whether what you are experiencing is normal, our team at Hearing Help is here to help.
Book an appointment with our team to have your ears assessed — we are conveniently located to serve the Redcliffe Peninsula and Moreton Bay community.