Do you hear a crackling sound? Buzzing, crackling, “static”, or whooshing sounds in your ear can all be indications of a condition known as tinnitus. Here’s some info.
Do you hear phantom sounds like thumping, ringing, or buzzing in your ears? If you use hearing aids, it may mean that they need to be adjusted or aren’t properly fitted. But if you don’t have hearing aids, those sounds might just be coming from inside your ear.
Don’t worry there’s no need to stress. Your ears have much more going on inside than what they appear to be on the outside. You might hear some of these prevalent tinnitus noises and here are some signs of what they may be telling you about your hearing. Though the majority are harmless (and short-term), it’s a smart plan to see us if any of these noises are persistent, cause pain, or are otherwise impeding your quality of life.
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 going underwater, altitude, or just yawning, you could hear crackling or popping noises. The eustachian tube, which is a tiny tube in your ear, is the cause of these sounds. The crackling occurs when these mucus-lined passageways open, letting fluid circulate and equalize the pressure in your ears.
It’s an automatic process, but occasionally, like if you are dealing with inflammation caused by allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, your eustachian tubes can literally get clogged from the excess mucus in your system (remember, your ears, nose, and throat are all linked). In severe situations where decongestant sprays, chicken soup, or antibiotics don’t provide relief, a blockage could call for surgery. You should schedule an appointment with us if you can’t get any relief from the nagging ear pain and pressure.
What does it mean when I hear vibrations in my ear?
In some cases, vibrations in the ear are an obvious sign of tinnitus. Technically speaking, tinnitus is the medical name for when a person hears abnormal noises, such as vibrations, in their ears that don’t originate from any external sources. Most people will refer to it as a ringing in the ears and it occurs across the spectrum, from barely noticeable to unbearable.
Is tinnitus causing this ringing in my ears?
Again, if you have hearing aids, you might hear these types of sounds for a number of reasons: the hearing aids aren’t sitting properly within your ears, the volume is too high, or your batteries are running low. But these sounds can also be caused by an excessive amount of earwax.
Too much earwax is well known to cause itchiness and to make it more difficult to hear, as well as the potential of an ear infection, but how can it create sounds. Your eardrum can be impeded if wax is pressing against it and that can produce these sounds.
And yes, excessive, persistent ringing or buzzing is indicative of tinnitus. And the noises produced by earwax are actually a kind of tinnitus. Tinnitus itself is commonly a symptom of something else happening with your health and isn’t itself a disease or disorder. While it could be as simple as earwax buildup, tinnitus is also associated with conditions such as depression and anxiety. Let us help you diagnose and get some relief for your tinnitus symptoms by helping you understand what the underlying health condition may be.
What are the peculiar rumblings i’m hearing?
This particular symptom is self-produced. Occasionally, if you have a really big yawn, you will hear a low rumble in your ears. Your body is trying to dampen sounds you make and the rumbling is your ears contracting little muscles in order to do that. Some of these sounds include your own voice, chewing, and yawning.
Those sounds manifest so near to your ears and so often that the level of noise would be harmful without these muscles. In extremely rare cases, some people can control one of these muscles, the tensor tympani, and produce that rumble at will. In other circumstances, a condition called tonic tensor tympani syndrome (TTTS) will cause people to suffer from tensor tympani muscle spasms. Individuals dealing with tinnitus or hyperacusis, which is a sensitivity to specific frequencies of sound, frequently experience TTTS.
What causes a fluttering sound in my ear?
Have you ever felt a flutter in your arms or legs after a workout? Those flutters are usually caused by a muscle spasm, and it’s the same as the fluttering you hear in your ears. Middle ear myoclonus, also known as MEM tinnitus, is a condition that affects the above mentioned tensor tympani muscle and the stapedius muscle in your middle ear. Usually, this condition is initially controlled using muscle relaxers and anticonvulsants, since it’s a muscle condition. Inner ear surgery to correct the condition is an alternative if the medications aren’t working, but results vary from procedure to procedure.
I hear a thumping or pulsing in my ears
If you occasionally feel like you’re hearing your heartbeat pulsing in your ears, you’re probably right. Your ears are really close to some major veins and arteries and if you just did a hard workout, have high blood pressure, or are very nervous you will probably hear your own pulse.
Most kinds of tinnitus can’t be heard by other people but that’s not the situation 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 thumping of your pulsatile tinnitus. If your heart is racing, it’s not abnormal to hear your own heartbeat, but if you’re hearing this pumping at other times that isn’t normal.
It’s a good idea to come see us if you’re hearing this pulsing on a daily basis. Like other forms of tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus is a symptom of another condition rather than a disease, so it might indicate a health concern, such as high blood pressure, if it continues. It’s important to tell us about your heart health history as pulsatile tinnitus can indicate 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 goes back to normal.
What’s this clicking sound?
The pressure inside your ears is kept in balance, as previously stated, by the eustachian tubes. If you get 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 the same reasons. What you’re hearing, is the Eustachian tube opening and closing. A clicking can occasionally 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?
Ear infections sometimes cause swelling which can make your ears pop. If your ears are popping, it could be a symptom of acute infection. If you are dealing with any other symptoms, such as pain in the ear, sudden hearing loss, or fever, you should schedule a consultation immediately. Sometimes, after an infection, as your head clears of mucus, your ears will pop.
How do I stop my ears from crackling?
Do you hear a crackling in your ear and think you may have tinnitus? Come in and see us and we can help you determine 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/