Hearing Loss and Allergies: What’s the Connection?

When you think about allergies, you probably think of sneezing, a stuffy nose, itchy eyes, or a runny nose. You may not immediately think about your hearing. Yet, when your allergies are acting up, you may notice that your ears feel plugged or that sounds aren’t quite as clear as usual.

There’s a reason for this. The inflammation and congestion that come with allergies can affect your ears, particularly your Eustachian tubes, which play an important role in keeping your ears working properly.

At Advanced ENT & Allergy in Newport News, Virginia, Timothy Queen, MD, Erica Cherry, FNP-BC, and our team care for patients with a wide range of allergy and ear concerns. If you’re noticing hearing loss or changes in your hearing along with your allergy symptoms, we can take a closer look at what’s going on.

How allergies can affect your hearing

Your Eustachian tubes run between your middle ears and the back of your nose and throat. They help keep pressure balanced in your ears and allow fluid to drain.

When your allergies cause your nasal passages to swell and become congested, your Eustachian tubes can swell along with them. When they aren’t able to open as they normally should, you can end up with pressure or fluid behind your eardrum.

You might notice that your ears feel full or plugged. You may hear popping or clicking when you swallow, or sounds may seem muffled. Some people describe the sensation as feeling like they’re underwater.

For many people, these symptoms are tied to their allergy flare-ups. You may notice them more when your congestion is at its worst and less once your allergies settle down. As the inflammation decreases and your Eustachian tubes begin working normally again, your hearing may return to normal, too.

Allergies can also cause irritation around your ear canal. Still, allergy-related hearing changes are usually temporary. They’re different from hearing loss associated with getting older, regular exposure to loud sounds, certain medications, or other health conditions.

If you’re continuing to have trouble hearing, don’t automatically assume your allergies are to blame. We can evaluate your ears and hearing to help identify what’s really behind the change.

Can treating my allergies help my hearing?

It can, particularly when congestion and inflammation are interfering with your Eustachian tubes or causing fluid to collect in your middle ear. We can help you get your allergy symptoms under control to help ease the pressure and fullness in your ears so your hearing can return to normal.

Your treatment will depend on your symptoms and what’s causing them. Depending on your needs, we may recommend allergy treatment, medication, or other care.

It’s also important to pay attention to symptoms that don’t go away. Make an appointment at our practice if you experience ongoing hearing loss, ringing in your ears, dizziness, ear pain, or drainage. 

These symptoms can have causes unrelated to allergies. That’s why finding the cause is an important first step toward getting the appropriate treatment.

When should I have my hearing checked? 

If you find yourself turning up the volume, asking people to repeat themselves, or noticing that your ears feel plugged whenever your allergies flare up, it may be time to have your hearing checked.

At Advanced ENT & Allergy, we can examine your ears, give you a hearing test, and look for signs that your allergies or Eustachian tubes could be contributing to the problem. Our team can help you understand what’s happening and discuss the next steps based on your needs. 

Call our friendly office at 757-979-6475 today during business hours or contact us online to schedule an appointment.