clogged ear

For  the past month, I had a crackling sound in my left ear. Like paper being scrunched up inside my head. Then, my ear felt clogged. My hearing was affected and I kept asking people to repeat themselves. I was becoming worried that I was losing my hearing and would have to get a hearing aid. Then, my other ear felt clogged. Uh oh, this was not good. I am old so losing my hearing was very possible.