Do you hear a crackling sound? A condition known as tinnitus can cause you to hear buzzing, crackling, whooshing, or other sounds in your ears. Here’s what you should know.
Ever hear crackling, buzzing, or thumping noises that seem to come from nowhere? If this is happening with hearing aids, it might mean you need to come in and get an adjustment. But if you don’t use hearing aids, those sounds may just be coming from inside your ear.
This doesn’t mean you need to panic. Your ears have much more happening inside than what they appear to be on the outside. Here are a few of the more common sounds you might hear inside of your ears, and what they might indicate is happening. The majority of these sounds are short-term and innocuous but if you have tinnitus sounds that are painful or are persistent you should get a consultation with us.
What’s the cause of the snap, crackle, and pop in I’m hearing?
We can tell you one thing, it isn’t the Rice Krispies. When the pressure in your ears changes, whether from altitude, going underwater, or just yawning, you may hear popping or crackling noises. These noises are caused by a tiny part of your ear called the eustachian tube. The crackling happens when these mucus-lined passageways open up, letting fluid circulate and equalize the pressure inside your ears.
It’s an automatic process, but occasionally, like if you have inflammation caused by allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, your eustachian tubes can literally get clogged from the excess mucus in your system (keep in mind, your ears, nose, and throat are all connected). In extreme cases where chicken noodle soup, decongestants, or antibiotics don’t give relief, a blockage might require surgery. If you’re enduring persistent ear pain or pressure and haven’t been able to find any relief, you should make an appointment with us to get a diagnosis.
What does it mean when I hear vibrations in my ear?
In some cases, vibrations in the ear are an obvious symptom of tinnitus. The term tinnitus relates to a disorder where noises are heard in the ears but those noises don’t originate in the outside world. Most individuals will refer to it as a ringing in the ears and it manifests across the spectrum, from barely noticeable to debilitating.
Is the buzzing and ringing in my ear tinnitus?
There are also numerous reasons why you might hear these sounds if you wear hearing aids: your batteries may be running low, you need to adjust the volume, or maybe your hearing aids aren’t fitting properly in your ear. But if you don’t use hearing aids and you’re hearing this type of noise, it could also be caused by accumulated earwax.
It seems logical that excessive wax could make it hard to hear and cause itchiness or even inner ear infections, but how could earwax produce a sound? Your eardrum can be impeded if wax is pressing against it and that can produce these sounds.
And yes, significant, persistent buzzing or ringing is indicative of tinnitus. And the noises generated by earwax are actually a form of tinnitus. Bear in mind that tinnitus isn’t itself a disorder or disease, instead, it’s a symptom of something else going on with your health. Your tinnitus could be triggered by simple earwax build up but it can also be associated with more severe problems like anxiety and depression. Diagnosing and treating the underlying health problem can help alleviate tinnitus, so you should contact us to learn more about ways to decrease your symptoms.
What’s causing my ears to rumble?
This particular symptom is self-created. Occasionally, if you have a really big yawn, you will hear a low rumble. Your body is trying to soften sounds you make and the rumbling is your ears tensing little muscles in order to do that. Some of these sounds include your own voice, chewing, and yawning.
These sounds occur so frequently, and are so close to your ears, without these muscles your ears could be damaged. In extremely rare situations, some people can control one of these muscles, the tensor tympani, and produce that rumble on cue. In other circumstances, a condition known as tonic tensor tympani syndrome (TTTS) will cause individuals to suffer from tensor tympani muscle spasms. Studies have shown that TTTS occurs frequently in individuals who have tinnitus and those suffering from hyperacusis, which is a sensitivity to specific sound volumes and wavelengths.
What about a fluttering noise?
After you workout, have you ever felt a flutter in your arms and legs. Muscle spasms cause those flutters just like the ones in your ears. Middle ear myoclonus, also known as MEM tinnitus, is a condition that impacts the aforementioned tensor tympani muscle and the stapedius muscle in your middle ear. Usually, this condition is initially managed with muscle relaxers and anticonvulsants, since it’s a muscle disorder. If medications don’t help, inner ear surgery can have varying degrees of success.
I hear a thumping or pulsing in my ears
If you occasionally feel like you’re hearing your heartbeat pulsing inside your ears, you’re probably right. Some of the body’s largest veins run really close to your ears, and if your heart rate is up – whether from a tough workout, big job interview, or a medical disorder like high blood pressure – your ears will tune in to the sound of your heartbeat.
Most kinds of tinnitus can’t be heard by others but that’s not the case with pulsatile tinnitus. If you come in to see us, we can listen in on your ears and we will be able to hear the pumping of your pulsatile tinnitus. If your heart is racing, it’s not abnormal to hear your own heartbeat, but if you’re hearing this pumping at other times that’s not normal.
It’s a good idea to come in for a consultation if you’re hearing this pulsing every day. If it persists, pulsatile tinnitus may be an indication of high blood pressure or other health conditions. Sometimes, pulsatile tinnitus is the result of a heart condition, so it’s important to talk about your heart with us. But after a good scare or workout, your hearing should go back to normal when your heart rate returns to normal.
What’s this clicking sound?
As mentioned above, the Eustachian tube helps keep the pressure equal in your ears. If you get a muscle spasm in the muscles that surround the Eustachian tube, like for example in the roof of your mouth, it can trigger a repeated clicking noise. Clicking can also take place when you swallow for similar reasons. This is caused by the opening and closing of the eustachian tubes. Some people report hearing a clicking sound when their head drains of mucus. A clicking can, in rare instances point to a fracture of one of the small bones of the ears.
Is ear popping a symptom of infection?
Sometimes, an ear infection produces the feeling that your ears are full and the swelling can make your ears pop. Popping in your ear can be a symptom of a severe infection. If you have any other symptoms, like ear pain, abrupt hearing loss, or fever, you need to schedule an appointment immediately. Sometimes, your ears will pop after an infection or cold as your head drains of mucus.
Can I stop this crackling in my ears?
Do you suspect that the crackling sound in your ears is tinnitus? Come in and consult with us and we can help you learn what treatments are best for your situation.
References
https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/uf9680
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24289817/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23571302/
