Crackling in your ear? Crackling, Buzzing, “static” or whooshing noises in your ear can all be indications of a disorder called tinnitus. Here is some relevant information.
Where is that crackling, ringing, or buzzing noise coming from? When it comes to somebody who has hearing aids, it might mean they need to be adjusted and fitted. For everyone else, tinnitus might be the answer.
There’s much more to the ear than what you see on the outside. Here are a few of the more common sounds you may hear inside your ears, and what they may reveal is going on.
What’s Causing 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 may hear crackling or popping sounds. A small part of your ear called the eustachian tube is the source of these noises. The crackling is caused by mucus-lined passageways opening up, permitting air and fluid to disperse and neutralize the pressure in your ears.
It’s a natural process, but sometimes, like if you’re dealing with inflammation from allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, your eustachian tubes can actually get gummed up from the overabundance of mucus in your system (remember, your ears, nose, and throat or all connected). Medical assistance, like surgery, is sometimes necessary in severe cases where nothing else has helped clear the blockage.
What Does it Mean When I Hear Vibrations in My Ear?
Sometimes tinnitus is experienced as a vibration in the ears. Tinnitus is the medical name for a disorder that causes people to hear sounds that have no outside cause, like vibrations, inside of the ear. It’s generally characterized 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
Once again, if you have hearing aids, you should check those first. There might be several reasons that you would hear these sounds: 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. If you don’t use hearing aids, accumulated earwax may be the issue.
Dull hearing, itchy ears, and ear infections can frequently be caused by excessive earwax but how could it be responsible for tinnitus noises? If it is touching your eardrum, it can actually inhibit the eardrum’s ability to function, which is what causes the buzzing or ringing. Fortunately, dealing with earwax is frequently pretty simple.
If you’re hearing odd sounds, call us. We can check your hearing aid to make certain it’s working correctly.