Are you hearing crackling in your ear? Crackling, Buzzing, “static” or whooshing sounds in your ear can all be indications of a condition known as tinnitus. Here is what you need to know.
Ever hear crackling, buzzing, or thumping sounds that seem to come from nowhere? In the case of somebody who uses hearing aids, it might mean they fitting and adjustments. But if you don’t have hearing aids it might be tinnitus.
There’s much more to the ear than what you see on the outside. Here’s what it may mean when some of these more common noises are playing in your ears.
I’m Hearing a Snap, Crackle, And Pop in my Ears But What’s The Cause?
We can tell you one thing – it’s not Rice Krispies. It’s not uncommon to hear a crackling or popping sound when there’s a change in pressure in your ear. This can be because you had a change in altitude, went underwater, or just yawned. A tiny part of your ear named the eustachian tube is the source of these noises. The crackling is caused by mucus-lined passageways opening up, permitting air and fluid to move and neutralize the pressure in your ears.
It’s an automatic process, but sometimes, like if you’re dealing with inflammation from allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, your eustachian tubes can literally get gummed up from the overabundance of mucus in your system (don’t forget, that there’s a connection between your ears, throat, and nose). In severe cases where decongestant sprays, chicken soup, or antibiotics don’t provide relief, a blockage may require medical treatment 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 commonly described 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 have hearing aids, again, checking those is the first task. There may be numerous reasons that you would hear these noises: your batteries need to be recharged, the hearing aids aren’t properly seated in your ears, the volume is too loud, or your hair is rubbing up against it. If you don’t have hearing aids, excessive earwax might be the issue.
It seems logical that excessive wax could make it hard to hear and cause irritation or even inner ear infections, but how can earwax create a noise? If it is touching your eardrum, it can actually restrict the eardrum’s ability to function, which is what causes the buzzing or ringing. Luckily, dealing with earwax is frequently pretty simple.
Reach out to us if you have strange noises in your ears. We can check your hearing aid to make sure it’s working properly.