Crackling in your ear? A condition called tinnitus can cause you to hear crackling, buzzing, whooshing, or other sounds in your ears. Here’s some info.
Do you hear phantom sounds such as thumping, ringing, or buzzing in your ears? If this is happening with hearing aids, it may mean you need to come in and get an adjustment. But those noises are most likely coming from inside of your ears if you don’t use hearing aids.
Don’t fret there’s no need to panic. Your ears have much more going on inside than what they appear to be on the outside. You may hear some of these common tinnitus noises and here are some indications of what they may be telling you about your hearing. Most of these noises are short-term and innocuous but if you have tinnitus noises that are painful or are persistent you should get a consultation with us.
What’s the cause of the snap, crackle, and pop in my ear?
We can tell you one thing, it isn’t the Rice Krispies. When the pressure in your ears changes, whether from going underwater, altitude, or just yawning, you may hear crackling or popping noises. The eustachian tube, which is a tiny tube in your ear, is the cause of these noises. The crackling occurs when these mucus-lined passageways open up, allowing air and fluid to circulate and equalize the pressure inside your ears.
It’s an automatic system, but occasionally, like if you have inflammation caused by allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, your eustachian tubes can literally get gummed up from the excess mucus in your system (remember, your ears, nose, and throat are all linked). There could be situations where a surgical procedure is required in more serious cases where decongestants, chicken noodle soup, or antibiotics don’t help. If you’re suffering from persistent ear pain or pressure and haven’t been able to get any relief, you should schedule an appointment with us to get diagnosed.
What does it mean when I hear vibrations in my ear?
Vibrations in the ear are in some cases a telling sign of tinnitus. Technically speaking, tinnitus is the medical term for when somebody hears unusual noises, like vibrations, in their ears that don’t originate from any external sources. The intensity of the sound can range from very quiet to earsplitting and most individuals will refer to it as ringing in the ears.
Is tinnitus causing this ringing in my ears?
Again, if you use hearing aids, you might hear these kinds of sounds for numerous reasons: your batteries may be running low, you need to adjust the volume, or perhaps your hearing aids aren’t fitting right in your ear. But if you don’t use hearing aids and you’re hearing this type of sound, it could also be the result of excess earwax.
Too much earwax is well known to create itchiness and to make it more challenging to hear, as well as the possibility of an ear infection, but how can it create sounds. If it is touching your eardrum, it can actually restrict the eardrum’s ability to function, which is what produces the buzzing or ringing.
And yes, excessive, chronic buzzing or ringing is indicative of tinnitus. And the sounds produced by earwax are actually a kind of tinnitus. Bear in mind that tinnitus isn’t itself a disease or disorder, rather, it’s a symptom of something else happening with your health. Your tinnitus may be triggered by simple earwax accumulation but it can also be linked to more serious problems like depression and anxiety. Let us help you diagnose and get some relief for your tinnitus symptoms by helping you determine what the root health condition might be.
What are the weird rumblings i’m hearing?
This next symptom is less common 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 will hear a low rumble in your ears. Your body is attempting to dampen sounds you make and the rumbling is your ears tensing little muscles in order to accomplish that. Some of these sounds include your own voice, chewing, and yawning.
Those sounds manifest so close to your ears and so often that the level of noise would be harmful without these muscles. One of these muscles, called the tensor tympani can, in extremely rare situations, be intentionally controlled to generate this rumbling. In other circumstances, a condition known as tonic tensor tympani syndrome (TTTS) will cause individuals to suffer from tensor tympani muscle spasms. Studies have shown that TTTS happens frequently in people who have tinnitus and those dealing with hyperacusis, which is a sensitivity to specific sound volumes and wavelengths.
What about a fluttering noise?
Have you ever felt a flutter in your arms or legs after a workout? Muscle spasms are the cause of those flutters exactly like the ones in your ears. MEM tinnitus, or middle ear myoclonus, affects the stapedius muscle and the tympani tensor muscles of the middle ear. Usually, this condition is initially controlled with muscle relaxers and anticonvulsants, since it’s a muscle disorder. Inner ear surgery to correct 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?
You’re probably not off base if you think you can hear your own pulse or heartbeat in your ears. Your ears are really close to some major veins and arteries and if you just worked out, have high blood pressure, or are very nervous you will most likely hear your own heartbeat.
This is known as pulsatile tinnitus, and in contrast to other types of tinnitus, it’s one that other people can hear. Pulsatile tinnitus isn’t hard for us to diagnose since we can listen in on your ears and hear the thumping and pulsing too. If your heart is pounding, it’s not abnormal to hear your own heartbeat, but if you’re hearing this thumping at other times that’s not normal.
If you do experience this pumping or pulsing daily, it’s probably a good idea to come in for a consultation. Like other forms of tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus is a symptom of another ailment rather than a disease, so it could indicate a health problem, like high blood pressure, if it persists. It’s important to tell us about your heart health history as pulsitile tinnitus can point to a heart condition. But after a good scare or workout, your hearing should go back to normal when your heart rate goes back to normal.
What’s this clicking sound?
The pressure in your ears is kept in balance, as previously stated, by the eustachian tubes. Repeated clicking can frequently be heard when you get muscle spasms in the muscles near the eustachian tubes (like in the roof of your mouth). For a similar reason, you might hear clicking when you swallow. This is due to the opening and closing of the eustachian tubes. Some people describe hearing a clicking sound when their head drains of mucus. A clicking can, in rare instances point to a fracture of one of the fragile bones of the ears.
Does it mean I have an infection if my ears are popping?
Sometimes, an ear infection causes the feeling that your ears are full and the inflammation can make your ears pop. Popping in your ear can be a sign of a severe infection. You should schedule an appointment with us right away if you have any other symptoms, like ear pain, sudden hearing loss, or fever. Sometimes, after an infection, as your head drains of mucus, your ears will pop.
How can I stop my ears from crackling?
Are you hearing a crackling in your ear and suspect you have tinnitus? Set up 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/