Are you hearing crackling in your ear? Crackling, Buzzing, “static” or whooshing noises in your ear can all be signs of a disorder called tinnitus. Here is what you should know.
Ever hear crackling, buzzing, or thumping noises that seem to come out of nowhere? In the case of someone who has hearing aids, it may mean they fitting and adjustments. But if you don’t use hearing aids it could be tinnitus.
Although we usually think of our ears with regards to what we see on the outside, there’s more than meets the eye – or in this instance, the ear. Here’s what it may mean when some of these more prevalent sounds 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. When the pressure in your ears changes – whether from an altitude change, going underwater, or just yawning – you might 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 equalize the air pressure, fluid, and air circulate causing these sounds to manifest.
Sometimes, such as 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 interfere with what is usually an automatic process (don’t forget, your ears, nose, and throat or all connected). In extreme cases where decongestant sprays, chicken soup, or antibiotics don’t provide relief, a blockage may call for medical treatment like surgery.
What Does it Mean When I Hear Vibrations in My Ear?
Sometimes tinnitus manifests as a vibration in the ears. Tinnitus is the technical term for a condition that causes people to hear sounds that have no external cause, such as vibrations, inside of the ear. Most individuals will refer to it as a ringing in the ears and it manifests across the spectrum, from hardly there to debilitating.
Is There Anything I Can do?
If you use hearing aids, once again, checking those is the first task. You might hear these types of sounds for a number of reasons: your batteries need to be recharged, the hearing aids aren’t correctly seated in your ears, the volume is too high, or your hair is rubbing up against it. But if you don’t use hearing aids and you’re hearing this type of noise, it may also be because of excess earwax.
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 sound? If it is touching your eardrum, it can actually restrict the eardrum’s ability to function, which is what causes the buzzing or ringing. Fortunately, earwax problems are easily fixed.
If you’re hearing unusual sounds, call us. We can check your hearing aid to make sure it’s functioning properly.