Crackling in your ear? Crackling, Buzzing, “static” or whooshing sounds in your ear can all be indications of a condition known as tinnitus. Here is some relevant information.
Where is that crackling, buzzing, or ringing sound coming from? If you have hearing aids, it can mean that they need to be adjusted or aren’t properly fitted. But if you don’t have hearing aids it may be tinnitus.
Even though we typically think of our ears with regards to what we see on the outside, there’s more than meets the eye – or in this instance, the ear. Here’s what it could mean when some of these more common sounds are playing in your ears.
I’m Hearing a Snap, Crackle, And Pop in my Ears But What’s The Cause?
It’s not Rice Krispies that’s for sure. It’s not unusual to hear a crackling or popping 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 noises to manifest.
It’s an automatic process, but occasionally, like if you’re dealing with congestion from allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, your eustachian tubes can literally get clogged up from the overabundance 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 require medical treatment such as surgery.
What Does it Mean When I Hear Vibrations in My Ear?
Vibrations in the ear are sometimes a telltale sign of tinnitus. Tinnitus is the medical name for a condition that causes people to hear sounds 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.
What Should I do About Sounds in my Ear
Once again, if you have hearing aids, you should first check those. You may hear these types of sounds for a number of reasons: the hearing aids aren’t sitting properly within your ears, the volume is too loud, your hair is rubbing against them, or your batteries are running low. If you don’t use hearing aids, accumulated earwax might be the issue.
Dull hearing, itchy ears, and ear infections can often be caused by excessive earwax but how could it be responsible for tinnitus sounds? The ringing or buzzing can be caused by earwax touching your eardrum and hindering its function. Fortunately, earwax problems are easily fixed.
If you’re hearing odd sounds, give us a call. If your hearing aids are not working properly we can help with that.
