Are you hearing crackling in your ear? A disorder called tinnitus can produce numerous different noises in your ears including whooshing, buzzing, ringing, and crackling. Here is some relevant information.
Do you ever hear crackling, buzzing, or thumping sounds that seem to come from nowhere? When it comes to somebody who has hearing aids, it might mean they fitting and adjustments. But if you don’t have hearing aids it might be tinnitus.
Even though 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 common noises you may hear in your ears, and what they may indicate is happening.
I’m Hearing a Snap, Crackle, And Pop in my Ears But What’s The Cause?
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 might hear crackling or popping noises. A small part of your ear called the eustachian tube is the source of these noises. The crackling is caused by mucus-lined passageways opening up, allowing air and fluid to disperse and equalize 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 gum up the eustachian tubes and interfere with what is usually an automatic process (remember, your ears, nose, and throat or all connected). In severe cases where decongestant sprays, chicken soup, or antibiotics don’t provide relief, a blockage could require medical treatment like surgery.
What Does it Mean When I Hear Vibrations in My Ear?
Sometimes tinnitus manifests as a vibration in the ears. Tinnitus is the technical term for a disorder that causes people to hear noises that have no outside cause, like vibrations, inside of the ear. Most individuals will refer to it as a ringing in the ears and it manifests across the spectrum, from barely there to debilitating.
Is There Anything That Can be Done?
If you have hearing aids, once again, checking those is the first step. You might hear these types of sounds for numerous reasons: the hearing aids aren’t sitting properly inside of your ears, the volume is too high, your hair is rubbing against them, or your batteries are running low. If you don’t use hearing aids, accumulated earwax may be the issue.
Dull hearing, itchy ears, and ear infections can frequently be caused by excessive earwax but how could it be responsible for tinnitus noises? If it is pushing against your eardrum, it can actually hinder the eardrum’s ability to function, which is what causes the ringing or buzzing. Fortunately, dealing with earwax is usually pretty simple.
Reach out to us if you have odd sounds in your ears. We can check your hearing aid to make certain it’s functioning properly.