Crackling in your ear? A condition known as tinnitus can bring about numerous different noises in your ears including whooshing, buzzing, ringing, and crackling. Here is some essential information.
Where is that crackling, buzzing, or ringing noise coming from? When it comes to someone who uses hearing aids, it might mean they need to be adjusted and fitted. For everybody else, tinnitus may be the answer.
Even though we mostly think of our ears with regards to what we see on the outside, there’s more than meets the eye – or in this case, the ear. Here are a few of the more prevalent noises you may hear inside your ears, and what they may indicate is happening.
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 uncommon to hear a crackling or popping sound when the pressure in your ear changes. This can happen because you had a change in altitude, went underwater, or just yawned. These noises are caused by a tiny part of your ear called the eustachian tube. The crackling is caused by mucus-lined passageways opening up, allowing air and fluid to move and equalize the pressure in your ears.
It’s a natural process, but sometimes, like if you’re dealing with 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, that there’s a connection between your ears, throat, and nose). In extreme cases where decongestant sprays, chicken soup, or antibiotics don’t provide relief, a blockage could require medical intervention like surgery.
What Does it Mean When I Hear Vibrations in My Ear?
Vibrations in the ear are sometimes a telling indication of tinnitus. Tinnitus is the technical name for a condition that causes people to hear noises that have no outside cause, such as vibrations, inside of the ear. It’s generally characterized as a ringing in the ears and can, in some instances, be minimal, and in others, debilitating.
Is There Anything That Can be Done?
Again, if you use hearing aids, you should first check those. You might hear these kinds of sounds for numerous reasons: the hearing aids aren’t sitting properly inside of your ears, the volume is too loud, your hair is brushing against them, or your batteries need to be charged. If you don’t use hearing aids, excessive earwax might be the issue.
It seems logical that excessive wax could make it difficult to hear and cause itchiness or even inner ear infections, but how can earwax make a noise? If it’s pushing against your eardrum, it can actually hinder the eardrum’s ability to function, which is what causes the ringing or buzzing. Fortunately, managing earwax is frequently pretty simple.
Reach out to us if you have odd sounds in your ears. If your hearing aids are not working correctly we can help with that.