Crackling in your ear? Crackling, buzzing, “static”, or whooshing noises in your ear can all be signs of a condition known as tinnitus. Here’s some info.

Do you hear phantom noises like thumping, buzzing, or ringing in your ears? If this is happening with hearing aids, it might mean you need to come in and get an adjustment. But those sounds are probably coming from inside of your ears if you don’t use hearing aids.

This doesn’t mean you should panic. Even though we generally view our ears in terms of what we see on the outside, there’s more than meets the eye – or in this instance, the ear. You may hear some of these common tinnitus noises and here are some signs of what they might be telling you about your hearing. Though most are harmless (and short-term), it’s a good idea to see us if any of these noises are chronic, painful, or are otherwise diminishing your quality of life.

What’s causing the snap, crackle, and pop in I’m hearing?

It isn’t Rice Krispies, that’s for sure. You may hear crackling or popping when you have a pressure change, whether from a change in altitude, going under water, or just yawning. The eustachian tube, which is a small tube in your ear, is the cause of these sounds. The crackling happens when these mucus-lined passageways open, allowing air and fluid to circulate and equalize the pressure inside your ears.

It’s an automatic system, but occasionally, like if you are dealing with inflammation from allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, your eustachian tubes can literally get gummed up from the excess mucus in your system (don’t forget, your ears, nose, and throat are all linked). In serious cases where chicken noodle soup, decongestants, or antibiotics don’t provide relief, a blockage could call for surgery. If you’re experiencing chronic ear pain or pressure and haven’t been able to find any relief, you should make an appointment with us to get diagnosed.

What does it mean when I hear vibrations in my ear?

Vibrations in the ear are in some cases a telling sign of tinnitus. Technically speaking, tinnitus is the medical name for when somebody hears abnormal sounds, such as vibrations, in their ears that do not come from any outside sources. Most individuals will refer to it as a ringing in the ears and it occurs across the spectrum, from barely there to debilitating.

Is tinnitus causing this ringing in my ears?

Once again, if you use hearing aids, you might hear these types of sounds for numerous reasons: the hearing aids aren’t sitting correctly within your ears, the volume is too high, or your batteries are running low. But these sounds can also be caused by an excessive amount of earwax.

It makes sense that too much wax could make it difficult to hear and cause itchiness or even inner ear infections, but how could earwax produce a sound? If it’s touching your eardrum, it can actually restrict the eardrum’s ability to function, which is what produces the buzzing or ringing.

Chronic buzzing or ringing is an indication that you are dealing with tinnitus. Even buzzing from excessive earwax counts as a kind of tinnitus. Keep in mind that tinnitus isn’t itself a disease or disorder, instead, it’s a symptom of something else happening with your health. Your tinnitus may be caused by simple earwax build up but it can also be linked to more serious problems like anxiety and depression. Let us help you diagnose and find some relief for your tinnitus symptoms by helping you determine what the root health condition may be.

What’s causing my ears to rumble?

This particular symptom is self-created. Occasionally, if you have a really big yawn, you will hear a low rumble. Your body is trying to dampen sounds you make and the rumbling is your ears contracting little muscles in order to do that. They reduce the volume on yawning, chewing, and even your own voice.

These sounds happen so frequently, and are so near to your ears, without these muscles your ears could be damaged. One of these muscles, known as the tensor tympani can, in very unusual cases, be purposely controlled to generate this rumbling. In other cases, people suffer from tympani muscle spasms caused by tonic tensor tympani syndrome, or TTTS. Individuals suffering from tinnitus or hyperacusis, which is a sensitivity to certain frequencies of sound, commonly experience TTTS.

What causes a fluttering sound in my ear?

After you workout, have you ever felt a flutter in your arms and legs. Those flutters are normally caused by a muscle spasm, and it’s no different from the fluttering you hear in your ears. MEM tinnitus, or middle ear myoclonus, impacts the stapedius muscle and the tympani tensor muscles of the middle ear. Usually, this condition is initially managed with muscle relaxers and anticonvulsants, since it’s a muscle disorder. If medications don’t help, inner ear surgery can have varying degrees of success.

I hear a thumping or pulsing in my ears

You’re likely not off base if you think you can hear your own pulse or heartbeat in your ears. Some of the body’s biggest veins run really close to your ears, and if your heart rate is high – whether from a hard workout, big job interview, or a medical condition like high blood pressure – your ears will pick up the sound of your pulse.

Most types of tinnitus can’t be heard by other people but that’s not the situation with pulsatile tinnitus. If you come in for a consultation, we can listen in on your ears and we will be able to hear the pumping of your pulsatile tinnitus. While it’s absolutely normal to experience pulsatile tinnitus when your heart’s pounding, it should not be something you have to live with on a daily basis.

It’s a smart idea to come see us if you’re hearing this pulsing on a daily basis. If it continues, pulsatile tinnitus could be an indication of high blood pressure or other health conditions. It’s important to tell us about your heart health history as pulsatile tinnitus can indicate a heart condition. But if you just had a hard workout (or a good scare), you should stop hearing the pulsing or thumping as soon as your heart rate goes back to normal.

What’s this clicking sound?

The pressure inside your ears is balanced, as previously discussed, by the eustachian tubes. Repeated clicking can often be heard when you get muscle spasms in the muscles near the eustachian tubes (like in the roof of your mouth). Clicking can also take place when you swallow for the same reasons. What you’re hearing, is the Eustachian tube opening and closing. A clicking can sometimes be heard when mucus empties from the head. In some rare instances, persistent clicking could be an indication of a fracture in one of the fragile bones in your ear.

Is ear popping a sign of infection?

Ear infections sometimes generate swelling which can make your ears pop. Popping in your ear can be an indication of an acute infection. You need to schedule an appointment with us right away if you have any other symptoms, including ear pain, sudden hearing loss, or fever. Sometimes, after an infection, as your head drains of mucus, your ears will pop.

How do I stop my ears from crackling?

Do you hear a crackling in your ear and think you may have tinnitus? Set up a consultation with us to discuss treatments available to you.

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References

https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/uf9680
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24289817/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23571302/