Are you hearing crackling in your ear? Crackling, Buzzing, “static” or whooshing noises in your ear can all be signs of a condition known as tinnitus. Here is some relevant 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. But if you don’t have hearing aids it could be tinnitus.
There’s a lot more to the ear than what you see on the outside. Here are some of the more common sounds you might hear in your ears, and what they could indicate is going on.
What’s The Cause of The Snap, Crackle, And Pop in My Ear?
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 sounds. A tiny part of your ear known as the eustachian tube is the source of these noises. When these mucus lined passages open up to neutralize the air pressure, fluid, and air circulate causing these noises to occur.
Sometimes, like when you’re dealing with allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, an overabundance of mucus in your system can clog up the eustachian tubes and impede what is ordinarily an automatic process (keep in mind, your ears, nose, and throat or all connected). Medical assistance, like surgery, is occasionally called for in extreme cases where nothing else has helped clear the blockage.
I’m Hearing Vibration in my Ears – What Does That Mean?
Vibrations in the ear are often a telling indication of tinnitus. Tinnitus is the medical name for a condition that causes people to hear noises that have no outside cause, like vibrations, inside of the ear. It’s generally characterized as a ringing in the ears and can, in some cases, be minimal, and in others, debilitating.
What Should I do About Noises in my Ear
If you use hearing aids, once again, checking those is the first task. There may be numerous reasons that you would hear these noises: 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 are running low. If you don’t use hearing aids, excessive earwax might be the problem.
It seems logical that too much wax could make it hard to hear and cause itchiness or even inner ear infections, but how can earwax create a noise? If it is pushing against your eardrum, it can actually restrict the eardrum’s ability to function, which is what causes the buzzing or ringing. Fortunately, dealing with earwax is usually pretty straightforward.
If you’re hearing odd noises, call us. If your hearing aids are not functioning properly we can help with that.