Crackling in your ear? Buzzing, crackling, “static” or whooshing noises in your ear can all be indications of a disorder called tinnitus. Here is what you need to know.
Where is that crackling, buzzing, or ringing sound coming from? If you have hearing aids, it can mean that they require adjustment or aren’t fitted correctly. For everybody else, tinnitus may be the answer.
There’s a lot more to the ear than what you see on the outside. Here are a few of the more common noises you might hear inside your ears, and what they may reveal is happening.
I’m Hearing a Snap, Crackle, And Pop in my Ears But What’s The Cause?
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 simply yawning – you may hear crackling or popping noises. 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 occur.
Sometimes, like when you have 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 normally an automatic process (don’t forget, your ears, nose, and throat or all connected). In extreme cases where decongestant sprays, chicken soup, or antibiotics don’t provide relief, a blockage might call for medical intervention like surgery.
I’m Hearing Vibration in my Ears – What Does That Mean?
Vibrations in the ear are sometimes a telltale sign of tinnitus. Tinnitus is the technical 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 That Can be Done?
Once again, if you have hearing aids, you should first check those. There might be several reasons that you would hear these noises: your batteries are running low, the hearing aids aren’t properly positioned in your ears, the volume is too high, or your hair is rubbing up against it. But if you don’t use hearing aids and you’re hearing this type of sound, it could also be the result of excess earwax.
Dull hearing, irritated ears, and ear infections can frequently be caused by excessive earwax but how could it be responsible for tinnitus sounds? The buzzing or ringing can be caused by earwax pushing against your eardrum and impeding its function. Fortunately, dealing with earwax is usually pretty simple.
If you’re hearing odd noises, give us a call. We can examine your hearing aid to make certain it’s functioning correctly.