India, Oct. 23 -- If you've ever driven up a winding mountain road, ridden a cable car or stepped off a flight, you know the feeling. Your ears suddenly feel full, the world sounds muffled, and then, with a small pop, everything snaps back to normal. It's a common experience, and for most people it's nothing to worry about.

Still, it's a fair question: can travelling to high altitudes actually affect your hearing? In a conversation with HT Lifestyle, Dr Punam Kumari, head audiologist at Centre for Hearing, says, "It can, usually in small and temporary ways. Understanding why can help you travel more comfortably."

As you climb, the air thins and the outside pressure drops. The air trapped in your middle ear is now at a higher pressure th...