Crackling in your ear? Buzzing, crackling, “static”, or whooshing sounds in your ear can all be symptoms of a condition known as tinnitus. Here’s what you need to know.
Do you hear phantom noises like thumping, buzzing, or ringing in your ears? If you have hearing aids, it can mean that they need adjustment or aren’t properly fitted. But if you don’t have hearing aids, those sounds may just be coming from inside your ear.
This doesn’t mean you should panic. Your ears have a lot more happening inside than what they appear to be externally. You might hear some of these prevalent tinnitus noises and here are some indications of what they may be telling you about your hearing. Most of these noises are temporary and innocuous but if you have tinnitus noises that are painful or are persistent you should schedule a consultation with us.
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 could hear popping or crackling when you have a pressure change, whether from going underwater, a change in altitude, or just yawning. These noises are caused by a tiny part of your ear called the eustachian tube. When the pressure in these mucus lined passageways equalizes, the passages open up allowing air and mucus to circulate.
It’s an automatic system, but occasionally, like if you have inflammation from allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, your eustachian tubes can literally get clogged from the overabundance of mucus in your system (remember, your ears, nose, and throat are all linked). There might be situations where a surgical procedure is called for in more serious cases where decongestant sprays, chicken noodle soup, or antibiotics don’t do the trick. If you’re experiencing persistent ear pain or pressure and haven’t been able to get any relief, you should make an appointment with us to get diagnosed.
What does it mean when I hear vibrations in my ear?
Sometimes, vibrations in the ear are an obvious symptom of tinnitus. Technically speaking, tinnitus is the medical term for when someone hears unusual sounds, such as vibrations, in their ears that don’t originate from any external sources. Most people will refer to it as a ringing in the ears and it manifests across the spectrum, from barely noticeable to unbearable.
Is tinnitus triggering this ringing in my ears?
Once again, if you use hearing aids, you may hear these types of sounds for a number of reasons: your batteries might be running low, you need a volume adjustment, or perhaps your hearing aids aren’t fitting properly in your ear. But these sounds can also be caused by too much earwax.
Excess earwax is well known to create itchiness and to make it harder to hear, as well as the potential of an ear infection, but how can it generate sounds. If it’s pressing against your eardrum, it can actually inhibit the eardrum’s ability to function, which is what causes the buzzing or ringing.
Chronic buzzing or ringing is a sign that you are dealing with tinnitus. Even ringing from too much earwax counts as a type of tinnitus. Bear in mind that tinnitus isn’t itself a disorder or disease, instead, it’s a symptom of something else going on with your health. While it could be as simple as wax accumulation, tinnitus is also linked with conditions like depression and anxiety. Let us help you diagnose and find some relief for your tinnitus symptoms by helping you discover what the underlying health condition may be.
What are the strange rumblings i’m hearing?
This next symptom is less prevalent than others, and if you can hear it, you’re the one making the sound happen. Sometimes, if you have a really big yawn, you can hear a low rumble in your ears. Your body is trying to dampen sounds you make and the rumbling is your ears tensing little muscles in order to do that. Some of these sounds include your own voice, chewing, and yawning.
These sounds take place so frequently, and are so close to your ears, without these muscles your ears can be damaged. In very rare situations, some people can control one of these muscles, the tensor tympani, and produce that rumble at will. In other cases, a condition known as tonic tensor tympani syndrome (TTTS) will cause people to suffer from tensor tympani muscle spasms. Studies have shown that TTTS occurs frequently in individuals who have tinnitus and those dealing with hyperacusis, which is a sensitivity to particular sound volumes and wavelengths.
What about a fluttering sound?
After you workout, have you ever felt a flutter in your arms and legs. Muscle spasms are the cause of those flutters exactly like the ones in your ears. Middle ear myoclonus, also known as MEM tinnitus, is a condition that impacts the aforementioned tensor tympani muscle and the stapedius muscle in your middle ear. Since this is a muscle disorder, muscle relaxers and anticonvulsants are typically used as a first-round treatment to control the fluttering. Inner ear surgery to eliminate the condition is an alternative if the medications don’t work, but success varies from procedure to procedure.
Why are my ears drumming, pumping, and pulsing so much?
If you occasionally feel like you’re hearing your heartbeat thump in your ears, you’re most likely right. Your ears are very close to some major veins and arteries and if you just worked out, have high blood pressure, or are very anxious you will most likely hear your own pulse.
This is called pulsatile tinnitus, and in contrast to other types of tinnitus, it’s one that others can hear. Pulsatile tinnitus isn’t hard for us to diagnose because we can listen in on your ears and hear the thumping and pulsing too. While it’s totally normal to experience pulsatile tinnitus when your heart’s pounding, it shouldn’t be something you have to live with on a daily basis.
If you do experience this thumping or pulsing daily, it’s probably a smart move to come in and see us. Like other forms of tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus is a symptom of another ailment rather than a disease, so it may indicate a health concern, such as high blood pressure, if it persists. It’s essential to tell us about your heart health history as pulsitile tinnitus can indicate a heart condition. But if you just had a good workout (or a good scare), you should stop hearing the pulsing or pumping as soon as your heart rate goes back to normal.
Why does my ear keep clicking?
As mentioned above, the Eustachian tube helps keep equal pressure in your ears. Repeated clicking can often be heard when you get muscle spasms in the muscles near the eustachian tubes (like in the roof of your mouth). Clicking can also occur when you swallow for the same reasons. This is due to the opening and closing of the eustachian tubes. Some people report hearing a clicking noise when their head drains of mucus. In some rare instances, persistent clicking could be a sign of a fracture in one of the tiny bones in your ear.
Is ear popping an indication of infection?
Sometimes, an ear infection causes the feeling that your ears are full and the swelling can cause your ears to pop. If your ears are popping, it could be an indication of acute infection. If you are dealing with any other symptoms, such as ear pain, abrupt hearing loss, or fever, you need to schedule a consultation right away. Sometimes, your ears will pop after an infection or cold as your head clears of mucus.
Can I stop this crackling in my ears?
Are you hearing a crackling in your ear and suspect you have tinnitus? Make an appointment for a consultation with us to find out about 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/