You've may well have been addressing this problem, but perhaps, not in the most effective manner.
Both of us visited our doctor and found that we had a wax buildup in our ears.
You wouldn't be surprised if we told you that the effect was like that of a cable upgrade.
Both of our doctors recommended regular maintenance with Debrox, to keep this under control, and this is the genesis of the $10 number in the post header.
The usual disclaimers apply. We're not medical doctors, etc. etc. So at your next checkup, ask about ear wax and ear wax control.