Crackling in your ear? Buzzing, crackling, “static” or whooshing sounds in your ear can all be signs of a condition called tinnitus. Here is some relevant facts.
Do you ever hear crackling, buzzing, or thumping noises that seem to come from nowhere? If you have hearing aids, it can mean that they need to be adjusted or aren’t fitted correctly. For everyone else, tinnitus may be the answer.
There’s a lot more to the ear than what you see on the outside. Here’s what it may mean when some of these more common sounds are playing in your ears.
What’s Causing The Snap, Crackle, And Pop in My Ear?
We can tell you one thing – it’s not Rice Krispies. When the pressure in your ears changes – whether from a change in altitude, going underwater, or just yawning – you might hear crackling or popping noises. These sounds are caused by a small part of your ear called the eustachian tube. The crackling is caused by mucus-lined passageways opening up, allowing air and fluid to circulate and neutralize the pressure in your ears.
It’s a natural process, but in some cases, like if you’re dealing with congestion from allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, your eustachian tubes can literally get gummed up from an excess of mucus in your system (don’t forget, that there’s a connection between your ears, throat, and nose). In severe cases where decongestant sprays, chicken soup, or antibiotics don’t provide relief, a blockage may require medical treatment like surgery.
I’m Hearing Vibration in my Ears – What Does That Mean?
Sometimes tinnitus is experienced as a vibration in the ears. Tinnitus is the medical term for a disorder that causes people to hear noises that have no outside cause, like vibrations, inside of the ear. Most individuals will refer to it as a ringing in the ears and it manifests across the spectrum, from barely there to debilitating.
Is There Anything That Can be Done?
If you use hearing aids, once again, checking those is the first step. There might be numerous reasons that you would hear these noises: your batteries need to be recharged, the hearing aids aren’t properly seated in your ears, the volume is too high, or your hair is rubbing up against it. But if you don’t have hearing aids and you’re hearing this kind of sound, it could also be due to accumulated earwax.
Dull hearing, itchy ears, and ear infections can frequently be caused by excessive earwax but how could it be responsible for tinnitus noises? The buzzing or ringing can be caused by earwax pushing against your eardrum and impeding its function. Fortunately, earwax problems are easily fixed.
Reach out to us if you have strange sounds in your ears. If your hearing aids are not functioning correctly we can help with that.