Crackling in your ear? A condition known as tinnitus can cause you to hear crackling, buzzing, whooshing, or other noises in your ears. Here’s some info.
Ever hear crackling, buzzing, or thumping sounds that seem to come from nowhere? If this is occurring with hearing aids, it may mean you need to come in and get an adjustment. But if you don’t use hearing aids, those noises might just be coming from inside of your ear.
This doesn’t mean you need to panic. Even though we typically think of our ears in terms of what we see externally, there’s more than meets the eye – or in this instance, the ear. Here are some of the more common sounds you may hear inside of your ears, and what they may suggest is happening. Though most are harmless (and temporary), it’s a smart idea to see us if any of these noises are chronic, painful, or are otherwise impeding your quality of life.
There’s a snap, crackle, and pop in my ears but what’s the cause?
We can tell you one thing, it isn’t the Rice Krispies. You may hear crackling or popping when you have a pressure change, whether from a change in altitude, going under water, or just yawning. The eustachian tube, which is a tiny tube in your ear, is the cause of these noises. When the pressure in these mucus lined passageways equalizes, the passages open up allowing air and mucus to circulate.
It’s an automatic process, but sometimes, like if you are dealing with inflammation from allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, your eustachian tubes can literally get clogged from the excess mucus in your system (remember, your ears, nose, and throat are all connected). In severe situations where chicken noodle soup, decongestants, or antibiotics don’t provide relief, a blockage may call for surgical intervention. If you’re enduring chronic ear pain or pressure and haven’t been able to find any relief, you should schedule an appointment with us to get diagnosed.
What does it mean when I hear vibrations in my ear?
Vibrations in the ear are sometimes a telling sign of tinnitus. The term tinnitus refers to a disorder where noises are heard in the ears but those sounds don’t originate in the outside world. Most individuals will refer to it as a ringing in the ears and it occurs across the spectrum, from barely noticeable to debilitating.
Is the ringing and buzzing in my ear tinnitus?
There are also several reasons why you may hear these sounds if you use hearing aids: the hearing aids aren’t sitting properly within your ears, the volume is too loud, or your batteries are running low. But these noises can also be produced by too much earwax.
Accumulated earwax is well known to cause itchiness and to make it more difficult to hear, as well as the possibility of an ear infection, but how can it create sounds. Your eardrum can be impeded if wax is pressing against it and that can create these sounds.
Persistent buzzing or ringing is a sign that you are dealing with tinnitus. Even ringing from excessive earwax counts as a type of tinnitus. Keep in mind that tinnitus isn’t itself a disease or disorder, alternatively, it’s a symptom of something else going on with your health. While it could be as basic as wax buildup, tinnitus is also associated with conditions such as anxiety and depression. Diagnosing and treating the underlying health issue can help relieve tinnitus, so you should speak with us to find out more about ways to minimize your symptoms.
What’s causing my ears to rumble?
This particular symptom is self-created. In some cases, you can hear a low rumbling when you yawn. That rumble is the sound of little muscles inside of your ears contracting in order to dampen sounds you make. They reduce the volume on yawning, chewing, and even your own voice.
Those sounds manifest so close to your ears and so frequently that the noise level would be harmful without these muscles. In very rare situations, some individuals can control one of these muscles, the tensor tympani, and produce that rumble at will. In other cases, a condition called tonic tensor tympani syndrome (TTTS) will cause individuals to suffer from tensor tympani muscle spasms. Studies have shown that TTTS occurs often in individuals with tinnitus and those suffering from hyperacusis, which is a sensitivity to particular sound volumes and wavelengths.
What causes a fluttering sound in my ear?
Have you ever felt a flutter in your legs or arms after exercising? Muscle spasms are the cause of those flutters exactly like the ones in your ears. MEM tinnitus, or middle ear myoclonus, affects the stapedius muscle and the tympani tensor muscles of the middle ear. Usually, this condition is initially managed using muscle relaxers and anticonvulsants, since it’s a muscle condition. If medications aren’t helpful, inner ear surgery can have varying degrees of success.
I hear a thumping or pulsing in my ears
If you occasionally feel like you’re hearing your heartbeat thump inside your ears, you’re probably right. Your ears are very close to some major veins and arteries and if you just did a hard workout, have high blood pressure, or are very anxious you will most likely hear your own pulse.
Most kinds of tinnitus can’t be heard by other people but that’s not the case with pulsitile tinnitus. Pulsatile tinnitus is not difficult for us to diagnose because we can listen in on your ears and hear the thumping and pulsing too. If your heart is pounding, it’s not unusual to hear your own pulse, but if you’re hearing this thumping at other times that’s not normal.
If you do experience this thumping or pulsing daily, it’s probably a good idea to come in for a consultation. If it persists, pulsitile tinnitus could be an indication of high blood pressure or other health concerns. In some cases, pulsatile tinnitus is the result of a heart condition, so it’s important to relate any heart health history to us. But if you just had a hard workout (or a good scare), you should stop hearing the pulsing or pumping as soon as your heart rate returns to normal.
Why does my ear keep clicking?
As stated above, the Eustachian tube helps keep equal pressure in your ears. Repeated clicking can frequently be heard when you get muscle spasms in the muscles close to the eustachian tubes (like in the roof of your mouth). For a similar reason, you may hear clicking when you swallow. This is a result of the opening and closing of the eustachian tubes. Some people describe hearing a clicking noise when their head drains of mucus. A clicking can, in rare instances indicate a fracture of one of the fragile bones of the ears.
Does it mean I’m dealing with an infection if my ears are popping?
Ear infections sometimes produce swelling which can make your ears pop. If your ears are popping, it could be a symptom of severe infection. If you are dealing with any other symptoms, like ear pain, sudden hearing loss, or fever, you should schedule a consultation immediately. Sometimes, after an infection, as your head clears of mucus, your ears will pop.
How can I stop my ears from crackling?
Do you hear a crackling in your ear and think you may have tinnitus? Make an appointment for a consultation with us to discuss treatments available to you.
References
https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/uf9680
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24289817/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23571302/