Crackling in your ear? A condition called tinnitus can produce numerous different sounds in your ears including buzzing, ringing, whooshing, and crackling. Here is what you need to know.
Ever hear crackling, buzzing, or thumping noises that seem to come out of nowhere? If you have hearing aids, it can mean that they need to be adjusted or aren’t fitted correctly. For everyone else, tinnitus may be the answer.
Even though we typically 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 sounds are playing in your ears.
What’s Causing The Snap, Crackle, And Pop in My Ear?
It’s not Rice Krispies that’s for certain. When the pressure in your ears changes – whether from a change in altitude, going underwater, or simply yawning – you may hear crackling or popping noises. A small part of your ear named the eustachian tube is the source of these noises. The crackling is caused by mucus-lined passageways opening up, permitting air and fluid to circulate and equalize the pressure in your ears.
It’s an automatic process, but sometimes, 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 extreme cases where decongestant sprays, chicken soup, or antibiotics don’t provide relief, a blockage may call for medical treatment such as surgery.
What Does it Mean When I Hear Vibrations in My Ear?
Vibrations in the ear are often a telltale indication of tinnitus. Tinnitus is the technical name for a disorder that causes people to hear noises that have no external cause, like vibrations, inside of the ear. It’s generally characterized as a ringing in the ears and can, in some cases, be minimal, and in others, debilitating.
What Should I do About Sounds in my Ear
If you have hearing aids, once again, checking those is the first step. There might be numerous reasons that you would hear these noises: your batteries need to be recharged, the hearing aids aren’t correctly positioned in your ears, the volume is too high, or your hair is rubbing up against it. If you don’t use hearing aids, excessive earwax might be the issue.
Dull hearing, irritated ears, and ear infections can frequently be caused by excessive earwax but how could it be responsible for tinnitus noises? The buzzing or ringing can be caused by earwax touching your eardrum and hindering its function. Luckily, managing earwax is usually pretty simple.
Reach out to us if you have unusual sounds in your ears. We can examine your hearing aid to make sure it’s functioning properly.
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