Are you hearing crackling in your ear? A condition called tinnitus can bring about numerous different noises in your ears including whooshing, buzzing, ringing, and crackling. Here is some important information.
Where is that crackling, buzzing, or ringing sound coming from? If you use hearing aids, it can mean that they require adjustment or aren’t properly fitted. For everyone else, tinnitus may be the answer.
Although we usually think of our ears in terms of what we see on the outside, there’s more than meets the eye – or in this case, the ear. Here are a few of the more common noises you might hear inside your ears, and what they may indicate is going on.
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. It isn’t uncommon to hear a crackling or popping sound when the pressure in your ear changes. This can be because you had a change in altitude, went underwater, or simply yawned. A small part of your ear named 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 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, your ears, nose, and throat or all connected). Medical help, like surgery, is occasionally called for in extreme cases where nothing else has helped clear the blockage.
I’m Hearing Vibration in my Ears – What Does That Mean?
Vibrations in the ear are sometimes a telltale indication of tinnitus. Technically, tinnitus is the medical term for when someone hears abnormal noises, like vibrations, in their ears that do not come from any outside sources. It’s typically characterized as a ringing in the ears and can, in some instances, be minimal, and in others, debilitating.
Is There Anything That Can be Done?
Again, if you have hearing aids, you should check those first. You might hear these types of sounds for a number of reasons: the hearing aids aren’t sitting properly within your ears, the volume is too loud, your hair is rubbing against them, or your batteries are running low. If you don’t use hearing aids, excessive earwax may be the issue.
Dull hearing, irritated ears, and ear infections can frequently be caused by excessive earwax but how could it be responsible for tinnitus sounds? The ringing or buzzing can be caused by earwax touching your eardrum and impeding its function. The good news is, earwax issues are easily fixed.
If you’re hearing odd noises, give us a call. We can check your hearing aid to make sure it’s working properly.