Hearing loss is often compared to the feeling of clogged ears. To sufferers, it may feel like something is preventing them from hearing correctly. If your loved one has been seen by a doctor, and there’s no evidence of a blockage or infection, you may want to consider that it could be due to hearing loss. The same goes for tinnitus, or ringing of the ears. While not itself a form of hearing loss, tinnitus is often a first sign of one. If someone close to you complains of blocked or ringing ears, be sure they get their hearing tested.