Do you hear a crackling noise? A condition called tinnitus can cause you to hear crackling, buzzing, whooshing, or other noises in your ears. Here’s some info.
Do you hear phantom noises like thumping, ringing, or buzzing in your ears? If you use hearing aids, it may mean that they need adjustment or aren’t correctly fitted. But if you don’t use hearing aids, those sounds might just be coming from inside of your ear.
Don’t worry there’s no need to panic. Even though we generally view our ears in terms of what we see on the outside, there’s more than meets the eye – or in this instance, the ear. You might hear some of these prevalent tinnitus sounds and here are some signs of what they might be telling you about your hearing. Most of these noises are temporary and innocuous but if you have tinnitus sounds that are painful or are chronic you should get a consultation with us.
What’s causing the snap, crackle, and pop in my ear?
It’s not Rice Krispies, that’s for sure. You might hear crackling or popping when you have a pressure change, whether from going underwater, a change in altitude, or just yawning. The eustachian tube, which is a small tube in your ear, is the cause of these sounds. When the pressure in these mucus lined passageways equalizes, the passages open up allowing air and mucus to circulate.
If you have too much mucus in these passages, often as a result of a cold, allergies, or an ear infection, they can get gummed-up and the ordinarily automatic process will get disrupted. There may be situations where a surgical procedure is required in more severe cases where decongestants, chicken noodle soup, or antibiotics don’t do the trick. If you’re suffering from chronic ear pain or pressure and haven’t been able to get any relief, you should schedule an appointment with us to get a diagnosis.
I’m hearing vibrations in my ear – what could that mean?
Vibrations in the ear are sometimes a telltale sign of tinnitus. The word tinnitus relates to a condition where sounds are heard in the ears but those sounds don’t originate in the outside world. Most people will refer to it as a ringing in the ears and it occurs across the spectrum, from barely noticeable to unbearable.
Is tinnitus triggering this ringing in my ears?
Again, if you have hearing aids, you may hear these types of sounds for numerous reasons: your batteries might be getting low, you need to adjust the volume, or perhaps your hearing aids aren’t fitting right in your ear. But if you don’t have hearing aids and you’re hearing this type of sound, it could also be due to accumulated earwax.
It seems logical that excessive wax could make it tough to hear and cause itchiness or even inner ear infections, but how could earwax make a sound? Your eardrum can be restricted if wax is pressing against it and that can produce these sounds.
Ongoing buzzing or ringing is an indication that you are dealing with tinnitus. Even ringing from excessive earwax counts as a form of tinnitus. Bear in mind that tinnitus isn’t itself a disorder or disease, instead, it’s a symptom of something else happening with your health. Your tinnitus may be caused by simple earwax accumulation but it can also be linked to more severe problems like anxiety and depression. Let us help you diagnose and get some relief for your tinnitus symptoms by helping you determine what the underlying health condition might be.
What are the weird rumblings in my ear?
This next symptom is less common than others, and if you can hear it, you’re the one making the sound happen. Occasionally, if you have a really big yawn, you can hear a low rumble in your ears. Your body is trying to soften 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 occur so often, and are so close to your ears, without these muscles your ears could be damaged. One of these muscles, called the tensor tympani can, in extremely unusual cases, be intentionally controlled to generate this rumbling. In other circumstances, individuals suffer from tympani muscle spasms caused by tonic tensor tympani syndrome, or TTTS. Studies have revealed that TTTS occurs often in people who have tinnitus and those dealing with hyperacusis, which is a sensitivity to specific sound volumes and frequencies.
What causes a fluttering noise in my ear?
Have you ever felt a flutter in your legs or arms after a workout? Those flutters are usually the result of a muscle spasm, and it’s no different from the fluttering you hear in your ears. Middle ear myoclonus, also called MEM tinnitus, is a condition that affects the above mentioned tensor tympani muscle and the stapedius muscle in your middle ear. Usually, this condition is initially controlled with muscle relaxers and anticonvulsants, since it’s a muscle condition. Inner ear surgery to correct the condition is an option 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 sometimes feel like you’re hearing your heartbeat pulsing in your ears, you’re probably right. Some of the body’s largest veins run really close to your ears, and if your heart rate is high – whether from a hard workout, big job interview, or a medical condition like high blood pressure – your ears will tune in to the sound of your pulse.
Most forms of tinnitus can’t be heard by other people but that’s not the case with pulsatile tinnitus. If you come in for a consultation, we can listen in on your ears and we will be able to hear the pumping of your pulsatile tinnitus. While it’s completely normal to experience pulsatile tinnitus when your heart’s racing, it shouldn’t be something you have to live with every day.
If you do experience this pumping or pulsing daily, it’s probably a smart move to come in for a consultation. If it persists, pulsatile tinnitus may be an indication of high blood pressure or other health concerns. It’s important to tell us about your heart health history as pulsatile tinnitus can point to 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 returns to normal.
Why does my ear keep clicking?
The pressure in your ears is kept in balance, as previously mentioned, by the eustachian tubes. Repeated clicking can often be heard when you have muscle spasms in the muscles close to 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. A clicking can occasionally be heard when mucus empties from the head. In some rare cases, persistent clicking could be a sign of a fracture in one of the fragile bones in your ear.
Is ear popping an indication of infection?
Sometimes, an ear infection creates the feeling that your ears are full and the swelling can cause your ears to pop. Popping in your ear can be a sign of a severe infection. You should schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible if you have any other symptoms, including ear pain, abrupt loss of hearing, or fever. Sometimes, after an infection, as your head drains of mucus, your ears will pop.
How can I stop my ears from crackling?
Do you suspect that the crackling noise in your ears is tinnitus? Set up a consultation with us to talk 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/
