Ear pressure often feels like fullness, clogging, or a need to pop your ears. It may happen temporarily with allergies, sinus congestion, a cold, or changes in altitude.
But when ear pressure will not go away, keeps returning, or begins affecting your hearing or balance, it may be time to have the cause evaluated.
Persistent ear pressure can have several possible causes. One of the most common is eustachian tube dysfunction, which occurs when the tubes that help regulate pressure between the middle ear and the back of the nose do not open properly.
Other possible causes include:
The sensation may feel similar even when the underlying cause is different, which is why persistent pressure sometimes requires an examination.
Temporary ear pressure caused by flying, elevation changes, or a mild cold may improve once the pressure equalizes or the congestion clears.
If the pressure lasts for several days, repeatedly returns, becomes painful, or does not improve as your other symptoms get better, an ENT evaluation may help determine what is causing it.
Consider seeing an ENT if your ear pressure is persistent or accompanied by other symptoms such as:
An ENT can examine the ear canal and eardrum, evaluate middle ear pressure, and determine whether the symptoms may be related to the ears, sinuses, allergies, jaw, or another condition.
Yes. Eustachian tube dysfunction is a common reason people experience pressure, fullness, popping, or muffled hearing.
The eustachian tubes normally open when you swallow or yawn to help equalize pressure. Allergies, sinus inflammation, respiratory infections, and other conditions can interfere with how well those tubes function.
If this problem continues, an ENT can determine whether eustachian tube dysfunction is contributing to your symptoms and discuss appropriate treatment options.
The ears, nose, and throat are closely connected. Swelling and congestion around the back of the nose can affect the openings of the eustachian tubes and create a sensation of pressure or fullness in the ears.
If your ear pressure happens along with nasal congestion, facial pressure, allergies, or recurring sinus problems, treating the underlying nasal or sinus condition may also help the ear symptoms.
For home relief options, read our guide on how to relieve sinus pressure in your ears.
Less commonly, persistent ear pressure may be associated with conditions involving the middle ear, inner ear, or nearby structures.
Ménière’s disease is an inner ear disorder that can cause episodes of vertigo, hearing changes, tinnitus, and a feeling of pressure or fullness in one ear.
A cholesteatoma is an abnormal growth of skin cells behind the eardrum. It can sometimes cause hearing loss, drainage, recurring infections, or a feeling of pressure.
Problems involving the temporomandibular joint, commonly called the TMJ, can sometimes create sensations of pressure or discomfort around the ear because the joint is located very close to the ear canal.
These conditions are not the most common causes of ear pressure, but persistent symptoms are one reason an examination can be useful.
Some ear symptoms should be evaluated promptly rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
Seek prompt medical attention if ear pressure is accompanied by:
Sudden hearing loss in particular should be evaluated promptly.
If your ear pressure will not go away, keeps returning, or is affecting your hearing or daily comfort, Glatz Group can help determine what may be causing it.
The cause may involve the ear itself, eustachian tube dysfunction, allergies, sinus inflammation, or another condition, so the right treatment depends on identifying the underlying problem.
Glatz Group provides ENT care in McAllen for patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
While ear infections are most common in young children, adults can also be affected. Ear infections (sometimes called acute otitis media) occur behind the eardrum when bacteria or a virus infects and traps fluid. This leads to pressure in the head and ears, and other sinus problems.
In many cases, ear infections tend to clear up on their own. However, there are different types of ear infections and factors that can impact their severity. That’s why sometimes it’s recommended to consult a sinus doctor.
There are three main types of ear infections that correlate to the three different main parts of the ear: inner, middle, and outer.
Often, a diagnosis of an inner ear infection may actually just be inflammation instead of an infection. Common symptoms of an inner ear infection include:
Also, in more rare cases, an inner ear infection may indicate meningitis.
The middle ear is located right behind your eardrum and a middle ear infection is caused by fluid being trapped. This leads to the eardrum bulging. In addition to an ear ache, common symptoms you may experience from a middle ear infection include:
An outer ear infection is often referred to as “swimmer’s ear.” The reason is that it is usually caused by water that gets in the ear while swimming or bathing. The moisture becomes the perfect environment for bacteria to grow and develop, leading to an infection.
Another way an outer ear infection may occur is if your ear is scratched or if you put your fingers or objects inside your ear.
Other than getting a cold, an ear infection is the most common illness in children and occurs the most between the ages of three months and three years. However, adults can receive ear infections as well.
Common risk factors for ear infections include:
Proper hygiene and care are instrumental in preventing and treating sinus pressure. Having a routine that involves properly removing ear wax is very crucial. However, sometimes it’s necessary to consult a sinus doctor if an ear infection grows in severity.
Our team at Glatz You Did is dedicated to ensuring you get the right treatment. Whether you have a minor ear infection or are in need of more specialized care such as a balloon sinuplasty, you can contact us for the care you need.
Our years of experience coupled with our passion for helping our clients make us a great place to turn to when you or a loved one are dealing with an ear infection.
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Most people try to handle earwax buildup themselves with cotton swabs and other cleaners. However, leaving severe earwax buildup untreated can lead to serious issues, from pain to hearing loss.
Below, your reliable sinus relief specialist of Glatz Group of Valley ENT explains how earwax buildup can lead to hearing loss and how an ENT doctor can help.
Earwax, also known as cerumen, is a waxy substance meant to act as a barrier between the ear canal and dust, bacteria, and other debris. What is surprising to many is that earwax is very important to the health of the ear, as it prevents infections from happening.
Earwax is meant to naturally move itself to our outer ear through the movements our jaws make when we talk, chew, and swallow. This action breaks up the ear wax, moving it to the outside of our ear, allowing us to wipe it away without further damage.
The buildup of earwax happens when more is produced than can be moved, making it difficult for the ear to clean itself out.
The main giveaway of earwax buildup is an increased difficulty hearing. Other symptoms you may experience all depend upon the severity of the buildup and the size of your ear canal.
Some of the common symptoms of excessive earwax buildup include:
If left untreated, these symptoms can make it very uncomfortable to function on a day-to-day basis. Hearing loss can affect your work, relationships, and way of life.
At the first sign of earwax buildup, it is important to get it looked at and treated.
When it comes to treating a blockage yourself, we strongly recommend against it. When a blockage is suspected, people often turn to cotton swabs or other objects to clean it out. However, this actually has the opposite effect, pushing the earwax further back into the canal. Using a swab at home can cause an infection, irritation, and damage to your ear.
Many sufferers decide to treat themselves at home because it is easier than going to see the doctor. Unfortunately, that sort of delay is likely to increase the damage to your ear and make your doctor’s visit even more urgent.
The treatment of your earwax buildup depends on your age, the symptoms you’re experiencing, and your overall health. Many providers will first give the ear time to remove the earwax buildup on its own. However, when the buildup remains or gets worse, they may recommend the following types of treatment.
Depending on your case, your health care provider may recommend one of these treatments or a combination of the three.
If you suspect you have a case of earwax buildup, we strongly advise that you schedule an appointment with your Valley ENT instead of trying to treat it at home with other remedies.
Remember that it is always best to be evaluated by a licensed medical professional first to get the proper care and treatment for your specific case.
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According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), five out of six children will have at least one ear infection before their third birthday.
Unfortunately, ear infections are a common occurrence. If you were to ask almost anyone, they would more than likely tell you that they have had an ear infection at least once in their life.
While chronic ear infections may be common in children, that shouldn’t mean they have to suffer through them. Today, your McAllen sinus relief specialists at the Glatz Group of Valley ENT will tell you all there is to know about treating your child’s chronic ear infections.
An ear infection happens when there is a buildup of fluid behind the middle ear. When the Eustachian tube does not drain properly, it produces bacteria and inflammation that results in the ear infection.
Ear infections can happen to adults and children, however, they more frequently afflict children. One reason being that children are smaller and so are their Eustachian tubes. The Eustachian tube is responsible for draining fluid out of the inner ear. When they get swollen, it makes it very difficult for fluid to drain, therefore causing a buildup and an infection.
Another reason that children are more susceptible to ear infections is because of their developing immune systems. Due to the fact that their immune systems are not as strong as an adult’s, it is harder for them to fight off an infection each time.
While signs may vary from child to child, some common symptoms include:
If the ear infections keep coming back, your ENT may give you antibiotics and wait a couple of months to see if the infection clears up. If that does not help, the next step would be putting in tubes to assist with the drainage of fluid. Once the tubes are in, your child will have several follow-up visits until the tubes eventually fall out on their own.
Once all of that is done, and if the ear infections keep occurring, the next step would be a surgical procedure to remove the adenoids. The adenoids are two pieces of tissue located near the Eustachian tubes. When this tissue gets swollen, it can block the passageway of fluid through the tubes.
If your child’s chronic ear infections go untreated, it could start affecting them in other ways. Every situation and child is different, but possible damage could include:
If your child is exhibiting any of the signs or symptoms listed above, reach out to your local ENT to get an examination or to rule out any other possible infections.
If you notice that the ear infections are happening more frequently or the infections are not going away, your sinus doctor will take the necessary steps to treat your child and answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Watching your child cope with an ear infection is already difficult enough without it becoming a chronic issue. Your sinus relief specialists in McAllen, TX, are here to help and put any worries you may have at ease.
