If you are battling a cold, the flu, or sinusitis, clogged ears are likely caused by . But don’t worry—you usually don’t need a doctor to fix this. Here is how to safely pop your ears and restore your hearing. Why do your ears clog when you’re sick? Your Eustachian tubes are tiny passageways connecting your middle ear to the back of your throat. Their job is to drain fluid and equalize air pressure.

Stay healthy and hear well!

Suddenly, the world sounds like you are underwater. You hear a constant crackle when you swallow, and your own voice sounds unnaturally loud inside your head (a phenomenon called autophony ).