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.
Ever hear crackling, thumping, and buzzing sounds that seem to come from nowhere? If you have hearing aids, it can mean that they need to be adjusted or aren’t properly fitted. For everybody else, tinnitus may be the answer.
There’s a lot more to the ear than what you see on the outside. Here’s what it may mean when some of these more common sounds are playing in your ears.
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. When the pressure in your ears changes – whether from an altitude change, going underwater, or simply yawning – you may hear crackling or popping noises. A tiny part of your ear named the eustachian tube is the source of these noises. When these mucus lined passages open up to neutralize the air pressure, fluid, and air move causing these noises to occur.
Sometimes, like when you have allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, an overabundance of mucus in your system can clog up the eustachian tubes and impede what is usually an automatic process (don’t forget, that there’s a connection between your ears, throat, and nose). In serious cases where decongestant sprays, chicken soup, or antibiotics don’t provide relief, a blockage might call for medical treatment such as surgery.
What Does it Mean When I Hear Vibrations in My Ear?
Sometimes tinnitus is experienced as a vibration in the ears. Tinnitus is the technical name for a disorder that causes people to hear sounds that have no outside cause, such as vibrations, inside of the ear. It’s commonly characterized as a ringing in the ears and can, in some instances, be minimal, and in others, debilitating.
What Should I do About Sounds in my Ear
If you use hearing aids, once again, checking those is the first task. You might hear these kinds of sounds for several reasons: your batteries are running low, the hearing aids aren’t correctly seated in your ears, the volume is too loud, or your hair is brushing up against it. If you don’t use hearing aids, excessive earwax might be the issue.
It seems logical that too much wax could make it difficult to hear and cause irritation or even inner ear infections, but how can earwax make a noise? The buzzing or ringing can be caused by earwax touching your eardrum and hindering its function. Fortunately, earwax issues are easily fixed.
If you’re hearing odd noises, contact us. We can check your hearing aid to make sure it’s working properly.