Aural Fullness - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Introduction:

Ear blockage or ear congestion is known as aural fullness. In this condition, muffled sounds, crackling sounds, or popping sounds occur in the ear. It can last for a few seconds to a few days. It may involve any part of the ear, from the external auditory canal to the inner ear. This condition is referred to as fluid filled in the ear. This is true in the case of children and is most common, but a few adults may have fluid-filled sensations, not every individual.

What Is Aural Fullness?

Aural fullness is a common condition seen in children. This is also called stuffy ear, fluid in ears, ear pressure, or clogging sensation in the ear. This condition may result in the muffling of sounds or slight hearing impairment.

Parts of the ear are the external ear, middle ear, and inner ear.

• The external ear consists of the outer part of the ear pinna, the ear canal, and the eardrum (tympanic membrane).

• The middle ear consists of an eardrum and three ossicles (bones).

• The inner ear consists of the cochlea, semicircular canals, and nerves that go to the brain.

Ear fullness occurs due to blockage of a eustachian tube of the ear or when it stops working properly. The eustachian tube is a thin tube connecting the middle ear to the back of the nose. This tube helps in balancing the air pressure on both sides of the eardrum. It also clears the secretions of the middle ear.

What Are the Causes of Aural Fullness?

Some conditions may hamper the functioning of the eustachian tube and cause ear fullness or pressure and clogging.

• Sinus congestion.

• Ear infections.

• Fungal infection.

• Swimmer’s ear.

• Change in altitude.

• Ear wax build-up.

• Foreign object.

• Meniere’s disease.

• Cholesteatoma.

• Acoustic neuroma.

• Damage of temporomandibular joint.

What Are the Symptoms of Aural Fullness?

Symptoms of ear fullness may be accompanied by other symptoms. Some of the symptoms are as follows:

• Pain in the ear or behind the ear on the bone.

• Itching may be present.

• Drainage of secretions from the ear.

• Inflammation signs like redness, warmth, or swelling.

• Fever.

• Weakness, cough, aches, sore throat.

• Discomfort or agitation, as well as a lack of energy.

• Ear fullness is felt.

• Feeling faint or disoriented.

• Tinnitus is the sensation of noise in the ear.

• Hearing loss.

What Are the Complications of Aural Fullness?

It becomes important to know about the underlying cause of the disease to get treated and avoid complications.

• Cholesteatoma: In this condition, skin grows abnormally in the middle ear. It may be seen from birth or due to repeated ear infections.

• Facial Paralysis: Inability to move the muscles of one side or the other side too.

• Mastoiditis: Bacterial infection affecting the mastoid bone.

• Meningitis: Many bacterias may cause infection of the meninges.

• Permanent Hearing Loss: Hearing loss that cannot be restored.

• Repeated Ear Infections: Infection of the ear very often.

• Impairment of Language or Speech: Speech is affected hence language problems may be caused.

• Infection May Spread: Ear infection may spread to other parts of the body.

How to Diagnose Aural Fullness?

Diagnosis can be made based on the information given by an individual for the questions asked by a healthcare professional.

• How long has the ear fullness been present?

• Did anyone notice any ear discharge, such as pus or oozing?

• Did anyone take any medications?

• Aside from these symptoms, do they feel well?

• Has a person ever gone swimming or scuba diving?

• Did a person travel by plane, or was there any change in altitude?

• Has a person ever spent the entire night outside?

• Did they spend their day in a noisy environment?

Based on the information and signs and symptoms, it is diagnosed.

Audiologic Tests:

• Otoscopic Examination: A test is done to know the structures of the external auditory canal, eardrum, and middle ear.
• Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA): Used to know the type and degree of hearing loss.
• Impedance Audiometry: Used to know the functioning of the middle ear.
• Speech Audiometry: It has two tests. One assesses the loudness of the speech for an individual, and the other one is how clearly one can differentiate two words when hearing them together.
• Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions ( DPOAE): It shows hair cell integrity and function of the cochlea.
• Auditory Brain Stem Response ( ABR): The auditory brainstem response (ABR), also known as brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA), is an auditory elicited response extracted from continuous electrical activity in the brain and recorded using electrodes attached to the scalp.
• Electrocochleography ( ECoG): Test of the electrical activity produced by the cochlea and eighth nerve.
• Tinnitogram: Monotones or varieties of tinnitus can be masked with many tones.

What Is the Treatment of Aural Fullness?

Treatment of aural fullness includes

• Ear fullness can be tried released by trying to do swallowing, yawning, and chewing sugar-free chewing gum.

• By taking deep breaths, blowing from the nostrils by closing the mouth and one of the nostrils.

• Nasal decongestants are used.

• If water is stuck in the ear can be removed by tilting the head to that side because of a recent shower or swimming.

• If hay fever is the cause, then antihistamines can be used.

• Topical nasal steroids for those with allergies.

• In severe cases, drain using ventilation tubes.

How to Prevent Aural Fullness?

Avoiding the activities that cause ear fullness can be prevented. Taking measures to avoid environments that cause allergies, high altitude change, swallowing, yawning, chewing with sugarless chewing gums, and using antihistamines and decongestants may help prevent ear fullness.

Conclusion:

Ear fullness is a sensation of blockage of an ear felt by an individual. This condition may appear simple but it has many causes. The ear is an important organ, and it must function well to have a good quality of life for an individual. Any slight discomfort felt in the ear may lead to loss of hearing, and one’s quality of life is affected. Hence to avoid such conditions one must know about the condition, its causes, symptoms, and treatments. Having knowledge helps in identifying the disease at the earliest and avoiding further complications. Early diagnosis help in achieving effective treatment.