A cold causes swelling and mucus buildup in the —the small canals connecting your middle ear to the back of your throat. When these tubes get blocked, air can’t flow, pressure builds up, and your ears feel full or plugged.
When the tube is blocked, air can’t reach the middle ear, creating a vacuum effect that pulls the eardrum inward, resulting in that "plugged" sensation. Common Symptoms In addition to the muffled hearing, you might experience: A feeling of fullness or "popping" in the ears. Mild ear pain or discomfort. A ringing sound (tinnitus). Slight dizziness or loss of balance. How to Get Relief cold and ears plugged