Do you hear a crackling sound? A condition called tinnitus can cause you to hear buzzing, crackling, whooshing, or other sounds in your ears. Here’s some info.
Ever hear crackling, buzzing, or thumping sounds that seem to come from nowhere? If you use hearing aids, it can mean that they need adjustment or aren’t properly fitted. But those noises are most likely coming from inside of your ears if you don’t have hearing aids.
Don’t fret there’s no need to panic. Your ears have a lot more happening inside than what they appear to be externally. You might hear some of these common tinnitus noises and here are some indications of what they might be telling you about your hearing. The majority of these noises are short-term 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
It isn’t 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 noises. When the pressure in these mucus lined passageways equalizes, the passages open up allowing air and mucus to circulate.
It’s an automatic process, but sometimes, like if you have inflammation caused by allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, your eustachian tubes can literally get clogged from the excess mucus in your system (keep in mind, your ears, nose, and throat are all connected). There may be situations where a surgery is required in more extreme cases where decongestants, chicken noodle soup, or antibiotics don’t help. If you’re enduring chronic ear pain or pressure and haven’t been able to get any relief, you should make an appointment with us to get a diagnosis.
I’m hearing vibrations in my ear – what does that mean?
Vibrations in the ear are in some cases a telltale sign of tinnitus. The term tinnitus refers to a disorder where noises are heard in the ears but those noises don’t originate in the outside world. Most individuals will refer to it as a ringing in the ears and it manifests across the spectrum, from barely noticeable to unbearable.
Is the buzzing and ringing in my ear tinnitus?
There are also several reasons why you may hear these sounds if you use hearing aids: your batteries may be getting low, you need a volume adjustment, or maybe your hearing aids aren’t fitting right in your ear. But these noises can also be caused by too much earwax.
It makes sense that too much wax could make it difficult to hear and cause itchiness or even inner ear infections, but how can earwax produce a sound? Your eardrum can be inhibited if wax is pressing against it and that can produce these sounds.
Persistent buzzing or ringing is an indication that you are dealing with tinnitus. And the sounds generated by earwax are actually a kind 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 build up but it can also be associated with more severe issues such as 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 may be.
What’s causing rumbling in my ears?
This particular symptom is self-produced. 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 accomplish that. Some of these sounds include your own voice, chewing, and yawning.
These sounds happen so often, and are so close to your ears, without these muscles your ears can be damaged. One of these muscles, known as the tensor tympani can, in extremely rare cases, be intentionally controlled to produce this rumbling. In other cases, people suffer from tympani muscle spasms caused by tonic tensor tympani syndrome, or TTTS. Individuals dealing with tinnitus or hyperacusis, which is a sensitivity to specific wavelengths of sound, frequently experience TTTS.
What causes a fluttering noise in my ear?
After you exercise, have you ever felt a flutter in your arms and legs. Muscle spasms cause those flutters just like the ones in your ears. MEM tinnitus, or middle ear myoclonus, impacts the stapedius muscle and the tympani tensor muscles of the middle ear. Since this is a muscle condition, muscle relaxers and anticonvulsants are commonly used as an initial treatment to bring the fluttering under control. Inner ear surgery to correct the condition is an alternative if the medications don’t work, but success varies from procedure to procedure.
I hear a pumping or pulsing in my ears
You’re likely not off base if you think you hear your own pulse or heartbeat inside your ears. Some of the body’s largest veins run very close to your ears, and if your heart rate is up – whether from a tough workout, big job interview, or a medical condition like high blood pressure – your ears will pick up the sound of your heartbeat.
Most forms of tinnitus can’t be heard by others but that isn’t 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 pounding, it should not be something you need to live with on a daily basis.
It’s a good idea to come in for a consultation if you’re hearing this pulsing on a daily basis. If it continues, pulsatile tinnitus could be an indication of high blood pressure or other health concerns. Sometimes, pulsatile tinnitus is related back to a heart condition, so it’s important to talk about your heart with us. But if you just had a hard 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 balanced, as previously stated, by the eustachian tubes. Repeated clicking can often be heard when you get muscle spasms in the muscles close to the eustachian tubes (like in the roof of your mouth). Clicking can also happen when you swallow for the same reasons. What you’re hearing, is the Eustachian tube opening and closing. Some individuals describe hearing a clicking sound when their head drains of mucus. A clicking can, in rare cases point to a fracture of one of the fragile bones of the ears.
Does it mean I’m dealing with an infection if my ears are popping?
Ear infections sometimes generate swelling which can cause your ears to pop. Popping in your ear can be a symptom of an acute infection. You need to make an appointment with us as soon as possible if you have any other symptoms, like ear pain, abrupt loss of hearing, or fever. Sometimes, your ears will pop in the days following an infection or cold as your head drains of mucus.
Can I stop this crackling in my ears?
Do you hear a crackling in your ear and suspect you have tinnitus? Make an appointment for a consultation with us to talk about treatments available to you.
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References
https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/uf9680
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24289817/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23571302/