Why It Feels Like Water in Your Ear—and What You Can Do About It

That Pesky Feeling: Like Water’s Stuck in Your Ear?

If you’ve ever felt like there’s water in your ear—but haven’t gone swimming—you’re not alone. Many people describe a sensation of fullness, muffled hearing, or a strange sloshing sound that just won’t go away. It’s an annoying, and sometimes worrying, feeling that can interfere with daily life. So, what’s really going on when it feels like water in your ear?

Let’s explore what causes that sensation, how to relieve it, and when it might be time to speak with a hearing care professional.

Common Causes of the “Water in Ear” Sensation

That trapped, wet feeling doesn’t always mean water is actually present in your ear. Here are several common reasons why it might feel like water is stuck in your ear:

1. Earwax Buildup

A leading culprit behind that full, plugged-up feeling? Excess earwax. When wax accumulates, it can block sound and create a sensation similar to having water lodged in the ear canal.

2. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

Your Eustachian tubes help regulate pressure and drain fluid from your middle ear. If they become clogged (often due to allergies, sinus infections, or colds), you might feel pressure, hear crackling or popping sounds, or feel like your ear is underwater.

3. Fluid from a Cold or Sinus Infection

Even after other symptoms fade, fluid from a respiratory illness can linger in the ear canal or behind the eardrum. This can create the sensation that something is sloshing or moving in your ear when you tilt your head.

4. Swimmer’s Ear (Otitis Externa)

If you have been in the water recently, you could be dealing with swimmer’s ear, an outer ear canal infection caused by moisture and bacteria. Symptoms include itching, redness, drainage, and the unmistakable sensation of trapped fluid.

5. Hearing Loss or Auditory Changes

Sometimes, hearing changes caused by age-related hearing loss, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, or barotrauma can trick the brain into interpreting sound and pressure differently—creating the illusion that your ear is blocked with water.

Signs It’s Time to See a Professional

While that watery feeling might seem minor, it’s important to know when to get help. Contact a hearing care provider if you experience:

• Persistent pressure or fullness in the ear
• Pain or discharge
• Sudden hearing loss
• Dizziness or balance issues
• A history of chronic ear infections

These could indicate more serious conditions such as middle ear infections, eardrum perforation, or impacted earwax, all of which are treatable with the right care.

What You Can Do at Home

If your symptoms are mild and there’s no pain or fever, here are a few home tips that may offer relief:

Try gravity: Tilt your head to the side and gently tug on your earlobe.

Use a warm compress: Place it against your ear to encourage fluid drainage.

Stay hydrated and chew gum: This can help open the Eustachian tubes.

Avoid cotton swabs: These can push wax deeper and cause injury.

However, never try to remove earwax with objects, and avoid using ear drops unless recommended by a professional.

How Hearing Professionals Can Help

If it feels like water is stuck in your ear and the sensation won’t go away, hearing care professionals are available to help. We’ll assess your ears for wax buildup, fluid, or signs of hearing loss using advanced diagnostic tools and expertise honed over 85 years of hearing health care.

We don’t just treat symptoms—we listen to your concerns and work with you to find personalized solutions. Whether it’s a simple wax removal or a more in-depth hearing evaluation, you’ll get care that’s focused on your hearing, your comfort, and your lifestyle.

Don’t Ignore That Watery Feeling in Your Ear

If it consistently feels like water in your ear, don’t chalk it up to nothing. Whether it’s earwax, fluid, or something more, your ears are trying to tell you something—and Beltone is ready to listen.

Find your local Beltone clinic and book a free hearing screening today.