Crackling in your ear? A disorder known as tinnitus can produce many different sounds in your ears including buzzing, ringing, whooshing, and crackling. Here is what you should know.
Where is that crackling, ringing, or buzzing noise coming from? When it comes to somebody who uses hearing aids, it might mean they need to be adjusted and fitted. But if you don’t have hearing aids it could be tinnitus.
There’s much more to the ear than what you see on the outside. Here are some of the more prevalent sounds you may hear inside your ears, and what they may indicate is going on.
What’s The Cause of The Snap, Crackle, And Pop in My Ear?
It’s not Rice Krispies that’s for certain. It isn’t unusual to hear a popping or crackling sound when there’s a change in pressure in your ear. This can be because you had a change in altitude, went underwater, or just yawned. A small part of your ear named the eustachian tube is the source of these noises. When these mucus lined passages open up to equalize the air pressure, fluid, and air circulate causing these sounds to occur.
It’s a natural process, but sometimes, like if you’re dealing with congestion from allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, your eustachian tubes can actually get clogged up from an excess of mucus in your system (don’t forget, that there’s a connection between your ears, throat, and nose). In severe cases where decongestant sprays, chicken soup, or antibiotics don’t provide relief, a blockage could call for medical treatment like surgery.
I’m Hearing Vibration in my Ears – What Does That Mean?
Vibrations in the ear are sometimes a telltale indication of tinnitus. Technically speaking, tinnitus is the medical term for when someone hears unusual noises, like vibrations, in their ears that don’t come from any outside sources. Most individuals will refer to it as a ringing in the ears and it manifests across the spectrum, from hardly there to debilitating.
Is There Anything I Can do?
Once again, if you use hearing aids, you should first check those. You may hear these kinds of sounds for a number of reasons: your batteries need to be recharged, the hearing aids aren’t properly positioned in your ears, the volume is too loud, or your hair is brushing up against it. If you don’t use hearing aids, excessive earwax might be the issue.
It seems logical that too much wax could make it hard to hear and cause itchiness or even inner ear infections, but how can earwax create a noise? If it is pushing against your eardrum, it can actually restrict the eardrum’s ability to function, which is what causes the ringing or buzzing. The good news is, earwax problems are easily fixed.
If you’re hearing unusual sounds, give us a call. We can examine your hearing aid to make certain it’s working properly.