That muffled, “underwater” sensation is annoying at best and uncomfortable at worst. If you’ve ever spent hours tilting your head, hopping on one foot, or jabbing a Q-tip in there (please don’t), you know the struggle.
This is the most common cause. When you swim, water can get trapped in your ear canal. Because the canal is narrow and curved, surface tension can hold the water in place like a plug. It feels full, sloshy, and sounds are muted. blocked ear after swimming
Let’s talk about why this happens, how to fix it safely, and when you actually need to see a doctor. That blocked feeling usually comes down to one of two things: That muffled, “underwater” sensation is annoying at best
There’s nothing quite like the refreshing feeling of a summer swim—until you get out of the pool and feel like you’ve stuffed a cotton ball halfway down your ear canal. When you swim, water can get trapped in your ear canal