Crackling in your ear? Buzzing, crackling, “static” or whooshing sounds in your ear can all be signs of a disorder known as tinnitus. Here is what you should know.
Where is that crackling, buzzing, or ringing sound coming from? If you use hearing aids, it can mean that they need to be adjusted or aren’t properly fitted. But if you don’t use hearing aids it could be tinnitus.
Even though we typically think of our ears in terms of what we see on the outside, there’s more than meets the eye – or in this instance, the ear. Here are a few of the more prevalent sounds you might hear inside 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?
We can tell you this – it’s not Rice Krispies. It’s not unusual to hear a popping or crackling sound when the pressure in your ear changes. This can be because you had a change in altitude, went underwater, or just yawned. These noises are caused by a small part of your ear called the eustachian tube. The crackling is caused by mucus-lined passageways opening up, permitting air and fluid to move and equalize the pressure in your ears.
It’s a natural process, but in some cases, like if you have congestion from allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, your eustachian tubes can literally 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 occasionally called for in severe cases where nothing else has helped clear the blockage.
What Does it Mean When I Hear Vibrations in My Ear?
Vibrations in the ear are often a telltale indication of tinnitus. Tinnitus is the medical term for a condition that causes people to hear noises that have no outside cause, like vibrations, inside of the ear. Most people will refer to it as a ringing in the ears and it manifests across the spectrum, from barely there to debilitating.
What Should I do About Noises in my Ear
If you use hearing aids, again, checking those is the first task. There may be a number of reasons that you would hear these noises: your batteries are running low, the hearing aids aren’t properly seated in your ears, the volume is too high, or your hair is brushing up against it. But if you don’t use hearing aids and you’re hearing this type of sound, it might also be because of accumulated earwax.
Dull hearing, itchy ears, and ear infections can often be caused by too much earwax but how could it be responsible for tinnitus noises? The buzzing or ringing can be caused by earwax pushing against your eardrum and hindering its function. Fortunately, dealing with earwax is frequently pretty simple.
Reach out to us if you have unusual noises in your ears. If your hearing aids aren’t working correctly we can help with that.