Crackling in your ear? A disorder called tinnitus can bring about numerous different noises in your ears including buzzing, ringing, whooshing, and crackling. Here is what you need to know.
Do you ever hear crackling, thumping, and buzzing noises that seem to come from nowhere? In the case of someone who uses hearing aids, it might mean they need to be adjusted and fitted. But if you don’t use hearing aids it may be tinnitus.
Although 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 are some 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 sure. When the pressure in your ears changes – whether from a change in altitude, going underwater, or just yawning – you might hear crackling or popping noises. These sounds are caused by a tiny part of your ear known as the eustachian tube. When these mucus lined passages open up to neutralize the air pressure, fluid, and air circulate causing these sounds to occur.
It’s an automatic process, but sometimes, like if you’re dealing with congestion 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, that there’s a connection between your ears, throat, and nose). Medical assistance, like surgery, is sometimes called for in extreme cases where nothing else has helped clear the blockage.
What Does it Mean When I Hear Vibrations in My Ear?
Sometimes tinnitus manifests as a vibration in the ears. Tinnitus is the technical name for a condition that causes people to hear noises that have no external 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 I Can do?
Once again, if you use hearing aids, you should first check those. There may be several reasons that you would hear these noises: the hearing aids aren’t sitting correctly within your ears, the volume is too loud, your hair is rubbing against them, or your batteries are running low. If you don’t have hearing aids, accumulated earwax might be the issue.
Dull hearing, irritated ears, and ear infections can frequently be caused by too much earwax but how could it be responsible for tinnitus sounds? The ringing or buzzing can be caused by earwax touching your eardrum and impeding its function. The good news is, earwax problems are easily fixed.
If you’re hearing odd noises, call us. We can examine your hearing aid to make certain it’s working properly.