Are you hearing crackling in your ear? Buzzing, crackling, “static” or whooshing noises in your ear can all be signs of a disorder known as tinnitus. Here is some important information.
Where is that crackling, ringing, or buzzing noise coming from? If you have hearing aids, it can mean that they require adjustment or aren’t fitted correctly. But if you don’t use hearing aids it could be tinnitus.
There’s a lot more to the ear than what you see on the outside. Here are a few of the more common sounds you might hear inside your ears, and what they could reveal is happening.
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 simply yawning – you might hear crackling or popping noises. These sounds are caused by a small part of your ear known as the eustachian tube. When these mucus lined passages open up to neutralize 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 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 may call for medical treatment such as surgery.
I’m Hearing Vibration in my Ears – What Does That Mean?
Vibrations in the ear are sometimes a telltale indication of tinnitus. Technically speaking, tinnitus is the medical term for when someone hears abnormal sounds, such as vibrations, in their ears that don’t come from any outside sources. Most people 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?
Once again, if you have hearing aids, you should check those first. There may be several reasons that you would hear these sounds: your batteries need to be recharged, the hearing aids aren’t properly positioned in your ears, the volume is too high, or your hair is brushing up against it. But if you don’t have hearing aids and you’re hearing this kind of sound, it might also be caused by excess earwax.
Dull hearing, itchy ears, and ear infections can frequently be caused by too much earwax but how could it be responsible for tinnitus sounds? The ringing or buzzing can be caused by earwax pushing against your eardrum and hindering its function. The good thing is, earwax issues are easily fixed.
If you’re hearing unusual noises, give us a call. If your hearing aids are not functioning correctly we can help with that.