Crackling in your ear? A condition known as tinnitus can produce numerous different sounds in your ears including whooshing, buzzing, ringing, and crackling. Here is what you need to know.
Where is that crackling, buzzing, or ringing sound coming from? In the case of someone who has hearing aids, it might mean they need to be adjusted and fitted. For everyone else, tinnitus may be the answer.
Although we typically think of our ears in terms of what we see on the outside, there’s more than meets the eye – or in this instance, the ear. Here are a few of the more prevalent sounds you might hear in your ears, and what they may reveal is going on.
What’s The Cause of The Snap, Crackle, And Pop in My Ear?
We can tell you this – it’s not Rice Krispies. When the pressure in your ears changes – whether from an altitude change, going underwater, or simply yawning – you may hear crackling or popping noises. A small part of your ear called the eustachian tube is the source of these noises. When these mucus lined passages open up to neutralize the air pressure, fluid, and air move causing these sounds to manifest.
Sometimes, like when you have allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, an overabundance of mucus in your system can clog up the eustachian tubes and impede what is ordinarily an automatic process (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 require medical intervention like surgery.
I’m Hearing Vibration in my Ears – What Does That Mean?
Sometimes tinnitus manifests as a vibration in the ears. Technically, tinnitus is the scientific term for when someone hears unusual sounds, like vibrations, in their ears that do not come from any outside sources. Most people will refer to it as a ringing in the ears and it manifests across the spectrum, from barely there to debilitating.
What Should I do About Noises in my Ear
If you have hearing aids, once again, checking those is the first step. You might hear these types of sounds for several reasons: the hearing aids aren’t sitting properly inside of your ears, the volume is too loud, your hair is brushing against them, or your batteries need to be charged. But if you don’t have hearing aids and you’re hearing this kind of sound, it might also be due to excess earwax.
It seems logical that too much wax could make it hard to hear and cause irritation or even inner ear infections, but how can earwax create a sound? If it is touching your eardrum, it can actually inhibit the eardrum’s ability to function, which is what causes the ringing or buzzing. Fortunately, managing earwax is frequently pretty simple.
If you’re hearing unusual sounds, give us a call. We can examine your hearing aid to make sure it’s functioning correctly.