Are you hearing crackling in your ear? Buzzing, crackling, “static” or whooshing sounds in your ear can all be indications of a condition called tinnitus. Here is some relevant information.
Where is that crackling, ringing, or buzzing noise coming from? If you use hearing aids, it can mean that they require adjustment or aren’t fitted correctly. But if you don’t have hearing aids it could be tinnitus.
Even though we usually 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 some of the more prevalent sounds you may hear in your ears, and what they could reveal is going on.
What’s The Cause of The Snap, Crackle, And Pop in My Ear?
We can tell you one thing – it’s not Rice Krispies. When the pressure in your ears changes – whether from an altitude change, going underwater, or just yawning – you might hear crackling or popping noises. These noises are caused by a tiny part of your ear known as the eustachian tube. The crackling is caused by mucus-lined passageways opening up, allowing air and fluid to circulate and neutralize the pressure in your ears.
Occasionally, like when you’re dealing with allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, an overabundance of mucus in your system can clog up the eustachian tubes and impede what is normally an automatic process (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 may call for medical treatment such as surgery.
What Does it Mean When I Hear Vibrations in My Ear?
Sometimes tinnitus is experienced as a vibration in the ears. Tinnitus is the medical term for a condition that causes people to hear noises that have no outside cause, like vibrations, inside of the ear. Most people will refer to it as a ringing in the ears and it manifests across the spectrum, from barely there to debilitating.
Is There Anything I Can do?
If you have hearing aids, once again, checking those is the first step. There might be numerous reasons that you would hear these noises: your batteries need to be recharged, the hearing aids aren’t properly seated in your ears, the volume is too loud, or your hair is brushing up against it. But if you don’t use hearing aids and you’re hearing this type of sound, it could also be due to accumulated earwax.
Dull hearing, irritated ears, and ear infections can often be caused by too much earwax but how could it be responsible for tinnitus noises? If it’s pushing against your eardrum, it can actually hinder the eardrum’s ability to function, which is what causes the buzzing or ringing. The good thing is, earwax problems are easily fixed.
Reach out to us if you have odd noises in your ears. If your hearing aids aren’t working properly we can help with that.
