Crackling in your ear? A condition known as tinnitus can cause you to hear buzzing, crackling, whooshing, or other sounds in your ears. 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 to be adjusted or aren’t properly fitted. But those sounds are most likely coming from inside of your ears if you don’t use hearing aids.
Don’t worry there’s no need to stress. Even though we generally view our ears with respect to what we see on the outside, there’s more than meets the eye – or in this instance, the ear. You may hear some of these prevalent tinnitus sounds and here are some signs of what they might be telling you about your hearing. The majority of these sounds are temporary and harmless 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 causing it
We can tell you one thing, it’s not the Rice Krispies. You might hear crackling or popping when you have a pressure change, whether from going underwater, a change in altitude, or just yawning. These sounds are caused by a small part of your ear known as the eustachian tube. When the pressure in these mucus lined passageways equalizes, the passages open up allowing air and mucus to circulate.
If you have an excess of mucus in these passages, frequently as a result of allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, they can get clogged and the normally automatic process will get disrupted. There might be situations where a surgery is required in more extreme cases where decongestants, chicken noodle soup, or antibiotics don’t help. 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.
I’m hearing vibrations in my ear – what does that mean?
In some cases, vibrations in the ear are an obvious indication of tinnitus. Technically, tinnitus is the medical name for when someone hears unusual noises, like vibrations, in their ears that do not come from any external sources. Most individuals 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 might hear these types of sounds for a number of reasons: your batteries may be getting low, you need to adjust the volume, or maybe your hearing aids aren’t fitting properly in your ear. But if you don’t have hearing aids and you’re hearing this type of noise, it could also be due to accumulated earwax.
It makes sense that excessive wax could make it hard to hear and cause itchiness or even inner ear infections, but how can earwax produce a sound? If it is pressing against your eardrum, it can actually hinder the eardrum’s ability to function, which is what causes the buzzing or ringing.
And yes, significant, persistent buzzing or ringing is indicative of tinnitus. And the sounds produced by earwax are actually a type of tinnitus. Keep in mind that tinnitus isn’t itself a disorder or disease, alternatively, it’s a symptom of something else going on with your health. Your tinnitus might be triggered by simple earwax accumulation but it can also be associated with more serious issues like 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 decrease your symptoms.
What are the peculiar 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, you can hear a low rumbling when you yawn. That rumble is the sound of little muscles inside of your ears tensing in order to dampen sounds you make. They reduce the volume on yawning, chewing, and even your own voice.
Those sounds manifest so near to your ears and so often that the level of noise would be damaging without these muscles. One of these muscles, known as the tensor tympani can, in very unusual situations, be intentionally controlled to produce this rumbling. In other cases, a condition known as tonic tensor tympani syndrome (TTTS) will cause individuals to suffer from tensor tympani muscle spasms. Studies have revealed that TTTS happens frequently in individuals who have tinnitus and those dealing with hyperacusis, which is a sensitivity to specific sound volumes and frequencies.
What about a fluttering sound?
After you exercise, have you ever felt a flutter in your legs and arms. Those flutters are usually caused by a muscle spasm, and it’s no different from the fluttering you hear in your ears. Middle ear myoclonus, also known as MEM tinnitus, is a condition that impacts 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 disorder. Inner ear surgery to eliminate the condition is an option if the medications aren’t working, but results vary from procedure to procedure.
Why are my ears drumming, thumping, and pulsing so much?
You’re probably not off base if you think you hear your own pulse or heartbeat in your ears. Some of the body’s largest veins run really close to your ears, and if your heart rate is high – whether from a tough workout, big job interview, or a medical condition like high blood pressure – your ears will tune in to the sound of your heartbeat.
This is known as pulsatile tinnitus, and in contrast to other forms of tinnitus, it’s one that others can hear. If you come in for a consultation, we can listen in on your ears and we will be able to hear the thumping of your pulsatile tinnitus. While it’s totally normal to experience pulsatile tinnitus when your heart’s pounding, it should not be something you need to live with every day.
It’s a smart idea to come in for a consultation if you’re hearing this pulsing every day. If it continues, pulsatile tinnitus might be an indication of high blood pressure or other health conditions. 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 hard workout (or a good scare), you should stop hearing the pulsing or thumping as soon as your heart rate returns to normal.
Why does my ear keep clicking?
The pressure in your ears is balanced, as previously mentioned, by the eustachian tubes. If you have a muscle spasm in the muscles that surround the Eustachian tube, like for instance in the roof of your mouth, it can cause a repeated clicking sound. Clicking can also take place when you swallow for similar reasons. What you’re hearing, is the Eustachian tube opening and closing. A clicking can sometimes be heard when mucus empties from the head. In some rare instances, persistent clicking could be a sign of a fracture in one of the fragile bones in your ear.
Does it mean I’m dealing with an infection if my ears are popping?
Sometimes, an ear infection causes the feeling that your ears are clogged and the inflammation can make your ears pop. Popping in your ear can be an indication of a severe infection. If you are dealing with any other symptoms, like pain in the ear, abrupt hearing loss, or fever, you need to schedule an appointment right away. Sometimes, after an infection, as your head clears of mucus, your ears will pop.
How can I stop my ears from crackling?
Do you believe that the crackling noise in your ears is tinnitus? Come in and consult with us and we can help you learn what treatments are best for your situation.
References
https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/uf9680
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24289817/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23571302/