Hearing is the brain perceiving sound when sound waves vibrate small hair cells of the inner ear. Certain situations and conditions can inhibit the function of the inner ear and give the sensation of plugged ears. Treating plugged ears is a simple process in most instances.
Swallowing
According to Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., altitude fluctuations may produce the sensation of plugged ears. For example, riding in a car going uphill or traveling by plane may alter the pressure between the ear canal and inner ear. The pressure change inhibits the vibratory movement of the eardrums; therefore, sound is dampened. A popular method to treat plugged ears due to altitude shifts is swallowing. Swallowing opens the link between the eustachian tube and inner ear, decreasing the pressure and restoring eardrum function. Chewing gum promotes swallowing.
Baby Oil
The ear canal is lined with glands and hair follicles that secrete earwax. The wax prevents dust and other particles from entering the inner ear, therefore, protecting the delicate organs within. Normally, the wax travels to the outer ear where it is manually removed; however, there are individuals who produce excessive wax that hardens and plugs the ear. Physicians at the University of Alabama at Birmingham do not recommend the use of ear swabs or bobby pins to remove the wax. Instead, they say to insert two drops of baby oil into the ear canal, twice per day, until the wax is softened. Then, they suggest running warm water into the ear canal while showering to remove the wax.
Patience
Harvard Medical School recommends a "let it be" approach to plugged ears from wax buildup. The organs of hearing, deep within the middle and inner ear, are delicate and are easily damaged from a cotton swab or other implement. Cotton swabs also have a tendency to push the wax back into the ear, worsening the problem. Therefore, the otolaryngologists, or ear, nose and throat doctors, at Harvard suggest being patient and allowing the wax to make its way to the outer ear. If the problem persists, they say to tilt the head to one side, insert a small quantity of warm water into the ear, wait a minute, then tilt the head to the opposite side to allow the water and wax to seep out.
