Are you hearing crackling in your ear? Buzzing, crackling, “static” or whooshing noises in your ear can all be indications of a condition called tinnitus. Here is some relevant facts.
Where is that crackling, ringing, or buzzing noise coming from? If you have hearing aids, it can mean that they need to be adjusted or aren’t properly fitted. For everyone else, tinnitus may be the answer.
Although we mostly 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 are a few of the more prevalent sounds you might hear inside your ears, and what they could reveal is going on.
What’s The Cause of The Snap, Crackle, And Pop in My Ear?
We can tell you one thing – it’s not Rice Krispies. It’s not unusual to hear a crackling or popping sound when the pressure in your ear changes. This can happen because you had an altitude change, went underwater, or simply yawned. These sounds are caused by a tiny part of your ear known as the eustachian tube. The crackling is caused by mucus-lined passageways opening up, permitting air and fluid to move and equalize the pressure in your ears.
It’s a natural process, but occasionally, like if you have congestion from allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, your eustachian tubes can actually get clogged up from the overabundance of mucus in your system (don’t forget, your ears, nose, and throat or all connected). In serious cases where decongestant sprays, chicken soup, or antibiotics don’t provide relief, a blockage could call for medical intervention such as surgery.
I’m Hearing Vibration in my Ears – What Does That Mean?
Vibrations in the ear are often a telling sign of tinnitus. Tinnitus is the medical name for a condition that causes people to hear sounds that have no outside cause, such as vibrations, inside of the ear. It’s typically characterized as a ringing in the ears and can, in some cases, be mild, and in others, debilitating.
Is There Anything I Can do?
Once again, if you use hearing aids, you should first check those. You might hear these types of sounds for a number of reasons: the hearing aids aren’t sitting properly inside of your ears, the volume is too loud, your hair is rubbing against them, or your batteries need to be charged. If you don’t use hearing aids, excessive earwax might be the problem.
Dull hearing, irritated ears, and ear infections can frequently be caused by too much earwax but how could it be responsible for tinnitus noises? The buzzing or ringing can be caused by earwax touching your eardrum and hindering its function. Fortunately, dealing with earwax is usually pretty straightforward.
If you’re hearing unusual sounds, give us a call. We can check your hearing aid to make certain it’s working correctly.