Do you hear a crackling noise? Crackling, buzzing, “static”, or whooshing sounds in your ear can all be symptoms of a condition known as tinnitus. Here’s what you should know.
Ever hear crackling, buzzing, or thumping noises that seem to come from nowhere? If you have hearing aids, it may mean that they need to be adjusted or aren’t properly fitted. But if you don’t use hearing aids, those noises may just be coming from inside your ear.
Don’t worry there’s no need to panic. Even though we mostly think of our ears with respect to what we see on the outside, there’s more than meets the eye – or in this instance, the ear. You might hear some of these common tinnitus sounds and here are some indications of what they might be telling you about your hearing. The majority of these sounds are temporary and innocuous but if you have tinnitus sounds that are painful or are chronic you should schedule a consultation with us.
There’s a snap, crackle, and pop in my ears but what’s causing it
It’s not Rice Krispies, that’s for sure. When the pressure inside of your ears changes, whether from 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. The crackling happens when these mucus-lined passageways open, letting fluid circulate and equalize the pressure inside your ears.
If you have an excess of mucus inside of these passages, frequently as a result of a cold, allergies, or an ear infection, they can become gummed-up and the normally automatic process will get interrupted. In severe cases where chicken noodle soup, decongestants, or antibiotics don’t provide relief, a blockage could require surgical intervention. You should make an appointment with us if you can’t get any relief from the constant ear pain and pressure.
What does it mean when I hear vibrations in my ear?
Vibrations in the ear are in some cases a telltale sign of tinnitus. The term tinnitus relates to a condition where sounds are heard in the ears but those noises don’t originate in the outside world. Most people will refer to it as a ringing in the ears and it manifests across the spectrum, from barely noticeable to debilitating.
Is tinnitus causing this ringing in my ears?
Again, if you have hearing aids, you may hear these kinds of sounds for a number of reasons: your batteries might be running low, you need a volume adjustment, or maybe your hearing aids aren’t fitting properly in your ear. But if you don’t have hearing aids and you’re hearing this kind of sound, it could also be due to excess earwax.
Accumulated earwax is well known to create itchiness and to make it more difficult to hear, as well as the possibility of an ear infection, but how can it generate sounds. If it is touching your eardrum, it can actually hinder the eardrum’s ability to function, which is what causes the buzzing or ringing.
And yes, excessive, persistent ringing or buzzing is indicative of tinnitus. Even ringing from excessive earwax counts as a type of tinnitus. Tinnitus itself is commonly a symptom of something else happening with your health and isn’t itself a disease or disorder. Your tinnitus might be caused by simple earwax accumulation but it can also be associated with more severe problems such as anxiety and depression. Diagnosing and treating the underlying health issue can help alleviate tinnitus, so you should contact us to learn more about ways to minimize your symptoms.
What are the weird rumblings i’m hearing?
This particular symptom is self-created. In some cases, you will hear a low rumble when you yawn. Your body is trying to dampen sounds you make and the rumbling is your ears tensing little muscles in order to accomplish that. They turn down the volume on yawning, chewing, and even your own voice.
These sounds occur so often, and are so close to your ears, without these muscles your ears can be damaged. One of these muscles, called the tensor tympani can, in extremely rare cases, be intentionally controlled to generate this rumbling. In other circumstances, individuals suffer from tympani muscle spasms caused by tonic tensor tympani syndrome, or TTTS. Studies have revealed that TTTS happens frequently in people with tinnitus and those dealing with hyperacusis, which is a sensitivity to specific sound volumes and frequencies.
What causes a fluttering sound in my ear?
Have you ever felt a flutter in your arms or legs after a workout? Those flutters are normally the result of a muscle spasm, and it’s the same as the fluttering you hear in your ears. MEM tinnitus, or middle ear myoclonus, impacts the stapedius muscle and the tympani tensor muscles of the middle ear. Usually, this condition is initially controlled using muscle relaxers and anticonvulsants, since it’s a muscle disorder. Inner ear surgery to correct the condition is an option if the medications don’t work, but success varies from procedure to procedure.
I hear a pumping or pulsing in my ears
You’re likely not off base if you think you can hear your own pulse or heartbeat in your ears. Some of the body’s biggest veins run really close to your ears, and if your heart rate is high – whether from a hard workout, big job interview, or a medical condition like high blood pressure – your ears will tune in to the sound of your pulse.
Most kinds of tinnitus can’t be heard by other people but that isn’t 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 unusual to hear your own heartbeat, but if you’re hearing this pumping at other times that isn’t normal.
It’s a smart idea to come in for a consultation if you’re hearing this pulsing on a daily basis. Like other kinds of tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus is a symptom of another condition rather than a disease, so it could indicate a health problem, such as high blood pressure, if it persists. In some cases, pulsatile tinnitus is the result of a heart condition, so it’s important to relate any heart health history to us. But if you just had a good workout (or a good scare), you should stop hearing the pulsing or thumping as soon as your heart rate returns to normal.
What’s this clicking sound?
As stated above, the Eustachian tube helps keep equal pressure in your ears. Repeated clicking can often be heard when you have muscle spasms in the muscles close to the eustachian tubes (like in the roof of your mouth). For the same reason, you might hear clicking when you swallow. What you’re hearing, is the Eustachian tube opening and closing. A clicking can occasionally be heard when mucus drains from the head. In some rare cases, chronic clicking could be an indication of a fracture in one of the tiny bones in your ear.
Does it mean I’m dealing with an infection if my ears are popping?
Ear infections sometimes cause swelling which can cause your ears to pop. If your ears are popping, it may be a symptom of acute infection. You should make an appointment with us right away if you have any other symptoms, including ear pain, abrupt hearing loss, or fever. Sometimes, your ears will pop in the days following an infection or cold as your head clears of mucus.
How do I stop my ears from crackling?
Do you believe that the crackling noise in your ears is tinnitus? Set up a consultation with us to talk about treatments available to you.
References
https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/uf9680
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24289817/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23571302/
