Do you hear a crackling noise? Buzzing, crackling, “static”, or whooshing noises in your ear can all be indications of a condition known as tinnitus. Here’s what you need to know.
Do you hear phantom noises such as thumping, buzzing, or ringing in your ears? If you use hearing aids, it can mean that they need adjustment or aren’t correctly fitted. But if you don’t have hearing aids, those noises might just be coming from inside of your ear.
This doesn’t mean you need to panic. Even though we generally think of our ears with respect to what we see externally, there’s more than meets the eye – or in this instance, the ear. You may hear some of these common tinnitus sounds and here are some indications of what they might be telling you about your hearing. Though the majority are harmless (and short-term), it’s a smart idea to see us if any of these noises are persistent, painful, or are otherwise impeding your quality of life.
What’s causing the snap, crackle, and pop in my ear?
It’s not Rice Krispies, that’s for certain. You might hear crackling or popping when you have a pressure change, whether from a change in altitude, going under water, or just yawning. The eustachian tube, which is a tiny 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 occasionally, like if you are dealing with inflammation from allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, your eustachian tubes can literally get clogged from the overabundance of mucus in your system (remember, your ears, nose, and throat are all linked). In serious situations where decongestant sprays, chicken soup, or antibiotics don’t give relief, a blockage might require surgical intervention. You should make an appointment with us if you can’t get any relief from the nagging ear pain and pressure.
I’m hearing vibrations in my ear – what could that mean?
In some cases, vibrations in the ear are an obvious symptom of tinnitus. Technically speaking, tinnitus is the medical name for when a person hears abnormal sounds, such as vibrations, in their ears that do not come from any outside 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 the buzzing and ringing in my ear tinnitus?
Once again, if you have hearing aids, you may hear these types of sounds for numerous reasons: the hearing aids aren’t sitting securely within your ears, the volume is too high, or your batteries are running low. But these sounds can also be produced by an excessive amount of earwax.
It makes sense that excessive wax could make it hard to hear and cause itchiness or even inner ear infections, but how could earwax make a sound? If it is touching your eardrum, it can actually inhibit the eardrum’s ability to function, which is what triggers the buzzing or ringing.
Persistent buzzing or ringing is an indication that you are coping with tinnitus. And the noises produced by earwax are actually a type of tinnitus. Keep in mind that tinnitus isn’t itself a disorder or disease, rather, it’s a symptom of something else happening with your health. Your tinnitus might be triggered by simple earwax accumulation but it can also be linked to more severe problems such as anxiety and depression. Diagnosing and treating the underlying health issue can help relieve tinnitus, so you should contact us to find out more about ways to reduce your symptoms.
What’s causing my ears to rumble?
This specific symptom is self-produced. Occasionally, if you have a really big yawn, you can hear a low rumble in your ears. That rumble is the sound of little muscles inside your ears contracting in order to dampen sounds you make. They reduce the volume on yawning, chewing, and even your own voice.
These sounds take place so frequently, and are so close to your ears, without these muscles your ears could be damaged. One of these muscles, known as the tensor tympani can, in extremely unusual cases, be intentionally controlled to generate this rumbling. In other circumstances, individuals suffer from tympani muscle spasms caused by tonic tensor tympani syndrome, or TTTS. People suffering from tinnitus or hyperacusis, which is a sensitivity to specific wavelengths of sound, frequently experience TTTS.
What causes a fluttering sound in my ear?
Have you ever felt a flutter in your legs or arms after a workout? Muscle spasms are the cause of those flutters just 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. Since this is a muscle disorder, muscle relaxers and anticonvulsants are commonly used as a first-round treatment to control the fluttering. If medications aren’t helpful, inner ear surgery can have varying degrees of success.
I hear a pumping or pulsing in my ears
If you occasionally feel like you’re hearing your heartbeat pulsing inside your ears, you’re probably right. Some of the body’s biggest veins run really 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 tune in to the sound of your heartbeat.
This is called 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. If your heart is pounding, it’s not unusual to hear your own heartbeat, but if you’re hearing this thumping at other times that isn’t normal.
It’s a good idea to come in for a consultation 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 could indicate a health problem, like high blood pressure, if it continues. It’s essential to tell us about your heart health history as pulsatile tinnitus can indicate 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.
Why does my ear keep clicking?
As noted above, the Eustachian tube helps keep equal pressure in your ears. 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 noise. Clicking can also take place when you swallow for similar reasons. This is due to the opening and closing of the eustachian tubes. Some people report hearing a clicking sound when their head drains of mucus. A clicking can, in rare cases indicate a fracture of one of the small bones of the ears.
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. Popping in your ear can be an indication of an acute infection. If you are dealing with any other symptoms, such as ear pain, abrupt hearing loss, or fever, you need to schedule a consultation right away. Sometimes, your ears will pop in the days following an infection or cold as your head clears of mucus.
Can I stop this crackling in my ears?
Are you hearing a crackling in your ear and suspect you have tinnitus? Set up a consultation with us to talk 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/