Crackling in your ear? Crackling, Buzzing, “static” or whooshing sounds in your ear can all be indications of a disorder called tinnitus. Here is some relevant information.
Where is that crackling, buzzing, or ringing sound coming from? When it comes to someone who uses hearing aids, it may mean they need to be adjusted and fitted. But if you don’t have hearing aids it could be tinnitus.
Even though we usually think of our ears with regards to what we see on the outside, there’s more than meets the eye – or in this case, the ear. Here’s what it may mean when some of these more common noises are playing in your ears.
What’s The Cause of The Snap, Crackle, And Pop in My Ear?
It’s not Rice Krispies that’s for sure. When the pressure in your ears changes – whether from an altitude change, going underwater, or simply yawning – you might hear crackling or popping noises. A small part of your ear named the eustachian tube is the source of these noises. When these mucus lined passages open up to neutralize the air pressure, fluid, and air move causing these sounds to occur.
It’s an automatic process, but occasionally, like if you have congestion from allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, your eustachian tubes can actually get clogged 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 might call for medical intervention like surgery.
I’m Hearing Vibration in my Ears – What Does That Mean?
Sometimes tinnitus manifests as a vibration in the ears. Technically, tinnitus is the scientific term for when somebody hears abnormal sounds, such as vibrations, in their ears that do not come from any external sources. It’s commonly characterized as a ringing in the ears and can, in some cases, be mild, and in others, debilitating.
What Should I do About Noises in my Ear
Once again, if you have hearing aids, you should first check those. You may hear these kinds of sounds for numerous reasons: your batteries are running low, the hearing aids aren’t correctly seated in your ears, the volume is too high, or your hair is rubbing up against it. But if you don’t use hearing aids and you’re hearing this kind of sound, it could also be caused by 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 ringing or buzzing can be caused by earwax pushing against your eardrum and impeding its function. Fortunately, dealing with earwax is frequently pretty straightforward.
Reach out to us if you have odd sounds in your ears. If your hearing aids aren’t functioning properly we can help with that.