Spring is a season many of us look forward to: more daylight, better weather, and our bodies naturally want to get outdoors more. But at our hearing centre in Valencia, I see the same pattern repeat every year: people noticing strange changes in their hearing right around this time.
As a hearing care specialist, I see patients every day describing very specific sensations: “My ear feels blocked”, “it sounds like I’m inside a tube”, or “I suddenly can’t hear as well”. The first thing I do is reassure them, because in many cases the cause isn’t real or permanent hearing loss, but our body’s response to seasonal changes.
In this article I want to explain what happens to your ears in spring and, above all, how to tell whether it’s something temporary or whether you need to take further steps to stop it from getting worse.
The “triangle” that affects your ears in spring
There’s usually not just one culprit. What happens is a combination of three factors that put our hearing system’s sensitivity to the test:
- Seasonal allergies.
- Sudden changes in atmospheric pressure.
- Higher humidity and pollen in the air.
The connection between your nose and your ears
If you suffer from pollen allergies, you’ll know how uncomfortable nasal congestion can be. But what many people forget is that the nose and the ear are connected by a passage called the Eustachian tube.
When the nasal lining becomes inflamed due to allergies, this passage gets blocked. The result? The middle ear doesn’t ventilate properly, pressure builds up, and that uncomfortable feeling of “blocked ears” appears. It’s not that you’ve suddenly lost your hearing — it’s that sound now has a physical barrier (inflammation or mucus) stopping it from reaching the eardrum clearly.
Why do more earwax blockages appear now?
It might sound odd, but in spring we see a rise in earwax blockages in the clinic. Rising temperatures and sweating can cause earwax to become more hydrated or shift position, making it easier for it to compact. Add to that the fact that many people try to “clean” their ears with cotton buds to relieve allergy-related itching, and we end up pushing the wax further in, creating a genuine blockage.
Extra care if you already wear hearing aids
If you wear hearing aids, this season calls for a little extra care for your devices. Humidity and pollen are the biggest enemies of hearing technology. It’s common to notice that:
- The sound becomes a bit unstable or “muddy”.
- The filters clog more easily due to sweat.
- You feel like you’re “not hearing the same”, even though the device itself is working fine (it’s probably your own ear that’s a bit congested).
My professional advice: During this season, clean your hearing aids more often, use dehumidifying capsules every night, and if you notice any change, drop by your hearing centre for a professional clean of the device. A small adjustment to the filters can restore clarity right away.
When should you book an appointment?
Although most of these symptoms are temporary, it’s worth staying alert. You should get checked if:
- The blocked feeling lasts more than a week.
- You experience sharp pain or dizziness.
- You notice a very sudden hearing loss in just one ear.
- You hear ringing or buzzing (tinnitus) that you didn’t have before.
Tips for looking after your hearing in spring
To enjoy spring to the fullest, follow these simple guidelines:
- Keep your allergies under control: Follow the treatment prescribed by your doctor — if your nose can breathe, your ear will ventilate better.
- Safe hygiene: Cotton buds are off-limits. Use gentle saline sprays if needed, but never insert anything into the ear canal. Sprays, just like hydrogen peroxide drops, should only be used if there’s no perforation of the eardrum — if there is, you should visit an ENT specialist regularly to have any wax blockage removed, and if you wear hearing aids, you’ll need to keep an even closer eye on things.
- Protect yourself from the wind: On very windy days, or when there are sudden temperature changes in the evening, protect your ears to avoid inflammation.
What I always say in the clinic: Not everything that looks like hearing loss actually is, but the only way to be sure is with a quick test. A simple otoscopy and hearing test can settle any doubts and let us act before simple congestion turns into an uncomfortable case of otitis.
Spring doesn’t just change the scenery. It affects your hearing too, even if we’re not always aware of it.
In most cases, that blocked-ear feeling or slight loss of clarity is caused by allergies or pressure changes. It’s usually not serious, but it’s enough to be uncomfortable and raise questions.
That’s why my recommendation is: if you notice changes, don’t ignore them; if they drag on, get them checked; and if you’re unsure, talk to your doctor or visit your hearing centre. Every ear is different, and understanding what’s really going on in your specific case is what makes all the difference.
If you notice your ears aren’t quite working as they should this spring, don’t wait for it to sort itself out. Come and see us at our hearing centre in Valencia and we’ll take a look!
We’re at Calle Juan Llorens 7 in Valencia, or if you prefer, you can call us on 960 659 592 or send us a WhatsApp message at 621 00 16 93.
Hearing well also means knowing when your ears need attention.
Keep your hearing aids working like new with our Advanced Maintenance Guide, a practical handbook designed to prevent blockages and faults caused by pollen or humidity.
