Crackling in your ear? Crackling, Buzzing, “static” or whooshing noises in your ear can all be indications of a condition known as tinnitus. Here is some relevant facts.
Where is that crackling, ringing, or buzzing sound coming from? If you have hearing aids, it can mean that they need to be adjusted or aren’t fitted correctly. For everyone else, tinnitus might 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 may hear in your ears, and what they could indicate is going on.
I’m Hearing a Snap, Crackle, And Pop in my Ears But What’s The Cause?
It’s not Rice Krispies that’s for certain. It’s not unusual to hear a crackling or popping sound when there’s a change in pressure in your ear. This can happen because you had an altitude change, went underwater, or simply yawned. These noises are caused by a small part of your ear called the eustachian tube. When these mucus lined passages open up to neutralize the air pressure, fluid, and air circulate causing these noises to occur.
It’s a natural process, but occasionally, like if you have inflammation from allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, your eustachian tubes can actually get clogged up from the overabundance of mucus in your system (don’t forget, 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 call for medical intervention like surgery.
What Does it Mean When I Hear Vibrations in My Ear?
Vibrations in the ear are often a telltale sign of tinnitus. Technically, tinnitus is the medical term for when somebody hears abnormal sounds, like vibrations, in their ears that don’t come from any external sources. It’s typically characterized as a ringing in the ears and can, in some instances, be mild, and in others, debilitating.
What Should I do About Sounds in my Ear
If you use hearing aids, once again, checking those is the first task. There may be a number of reasons that you would hear these sounds: the hearing aids aren’t sitting correctly inside of your ears, the volume is too loud, your hair is brushing against them, or your batteries need to be charged. But if you don’t use hearing aids and you’re hearing this kind of sound, it might also be because of excess earwax.
It makes sense that too much wax could make it difficult to hear and cause itchiness or even inner ear infections, but how can earwax cause a sound? 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. Luckily, managing earwax is frequently pretty simple.
If you’re hearing unusual noises, contact us. If your hearing aids aren’t working properly we can help with that.