What Causes A Clogged Ear?

Acoustic Neuroma

An acoustic neuroma is a type of benign growth that can lead to blockage of the ear. It develops between the inner ear and brain, on the nerve that connects these two parts of the body. The majority of acoustic neuromas are small and slow to grow. They don't necessarily cause problems at first, and many patients aren't even aware that they have them. As the neuroma becomes larger, though, it can increase the pressure against the nerves found in the inner ear, which can lead the ear to become clogged, so affected individuals have trouble hearing and deciphering what's going on around them. It can also lead to permanent hearing loss and tinnitus. About one in every fifty thousand individuals will develop an acoustic neuroma. There aren't many known risk factors regarding the condition. The only solidly known one is a parent has a genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis 2. With that said, most of these tumors tend to be spontaneous.