Crackling in your ear? A condition known as tinnitus can cause you to hear crackling, buzzing, whooshing, or other noises in your ears. Here’s what you need to know.
Do you hear phantom sounds like thumping, buzzing, or ringing in your ears? If this is happening with hearing aids, it might mean you need to come in and get an adjustment. But those sounds are probably coming from inside your ears if you don’t use hearing aids.
Don’t worry there’s no need to panic. Even though we mostly think of our ears with respect to what we see on the outside, there’s more than meets the eye – or in this instance, the ear. Here are some of the more common sounds you might hear inside of your ears, and what they might suggest is happening. Though most are harmless (and temporary), it’s a good idea to see us if any of these noises are persistent, cause pain, or are otherwise impeding your quality of life.
There’s a snap, crackle, and pop in my ears but what’s the cause?
It isn’t Rice Krispies, that’s for certain. You could 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 sounds. The crackling happens when these mucus-lined passageways open, allowing air and fluid to circulate and equalize the pressure in your ears.
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 gummed up from the excess mucus in your system (keep in mind, your ears, nose, and throat are all connected). There may be situations where a surgical procedure is required in more extreme cases where decongestants, chicken noodle soup, or antibiotics don’t do the trick. If you’re experiencing persistent ear pain or pressure and haven’t been able to find any relief, you should schedule an appointment with us to get a diagnosis.
What does it mean when I hear vibrations in my ear?
In some cases, vibrations in the ear are an obvious sign of tinnitus. The term tinnitus refers to a condition where sounds are heard in the ears but those sounds don’t originate in the outside world. Most people will refer to it as a ringing in the ears and it occurs across the spectrum, from barely there to debilitating.
Is tinnitus causing this ringing in my ears?
Once again, if you have hearing aids, you might hear these types of sounds for numerous reasons: the hearing aids aren’t sitting securely within your ears, the volume is too loud, or your batteries are getting low. But if you don’t have hearing aids and you’re hearing this kind of sound, it could also be due to excess earwax.
It makes sense that excessive wax could make it hard to hear and cause itchiness or even inner ear infections, but how can earwax produce a sound? Your eardrum can be restricted if wax is pressing against it and that can produce these sounds.
Chronic buzzing or ringing is a sign that you are dealing with tinnitus. Even buzzing from too much earwax counts as a kind of tinnitus. Keep in mind that tinnitus isn’t itself a disease or disorder, alternatively, it’s a symptom of something else going on with your health. Your tinnitus might be caused by simple earwax build up but it can also be associated with more serious issues such as depression and anxiety. Diagnosing and treating the root health issue can help alleviate tinnitus, so you should speak with us to find out more about ways to minimize your symptoms.
What are the strange rumblings in my ear?
This specific symptom is self-created. In some cases, you can hear a low rumble when you yawn. That rumble is the sound of tiny muscles inside your ears contracting in order to soften sounds you make. They turn down the volume on yawning, chewing, and even your own voice.
These sounds occur so often, and are so near to your ears, without these muscles your ears could be damaged. One of these muscles, called the tensor tympani can, in very unusual situations, be intentionally controlled to produce this rumbling. In other circumstances, individuals 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 frequencies of sound, commonly experience TTTS.
What causes a fluttering noise 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. Middle ear myoclonus, also called MEM tinnitus, is a condition that impacts the aforementioned tensor tympani muscle and the stapedius muscle in your middle ear. Since this is a muscle condition, muscle relaxers and anticonvulsants are generally used as a first-round treatment to control the fluttering. Inner ear surgery to correct the condition is an option if the medications don’t work, but success varies from procedure to procedure.
Why are my ears drumming, thumping, and pulsing so much?
You’re probably not off base if you think you hear your own pulse or heartbeat in your ears. Some of the body’s biggest veins run very close to your ears, and if your heart rate is high – whether from a hard workout, big job interview, or a medical condition like high blood pressure – your ears will pick up the sound of your pulse.
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 pumping of your pulsitile tinnitus. If your heart is pounding, it’s not abnormal to hear your own pulse, but if you’re hearing this thumping at other times that isn’t normal.
If you do experience this pumping or pulsing daily, it’s probably a good idea to come in for a consultation. If it continues, pulsitile tinnitus could be an indication of high blood pressure or other health concerns. Sometimes, pulsatile tinnitus is the result of 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 thumping as soon as your heart rate returns to normal.
What’s this clicking sound?
As noted above, the Eustachian tube helps keep the pressure equal 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 trigger a repeated clicking sound. Clicking can also happen when you swallow for similar reasons. What you’re hearing, is the Eustachian tube opening and closing. Some people describe hearing a clicking noise when their head drains of mucus. A clicking can, in rare instances indicate a fracture of one of the small bones of the ears.
Does it mean I have an infection if my ears are popping?
Ear infections sometimes generate swelling which can make your ears pop. If your ears are popping, it may be a sign of acute infection. If you are dealing with any other symptoms, like ear pain, sudden hearing loss, or fever, you should schedule an appointment 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 suspect that the crackling noise in your ears is 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/
