Bowl of Rice Krispies making noise in your ear.

Are you hearing crackling in your ear? A disorder called tinnitus can produce numerous different noises in your ears including buzzing, ringing, whooshing, and crackling. Here is some essential information.

Do you ever hear crackling, buzzing, or thumping sounds that seem to come from nowhere? If you have hearing aids, it can mean that they require adjustment or aren’t properly fitted. But if you don’t have hearing aids it could be tinnitus.

Although we typically think of our ears in terms of what we see on the outside, there’s more than meets the eye – or in this instance, the ear. Here’s what it may mean when some of these more prevalent noises are playing in your ears.

What’s Causing The Snap, Crackle, And Pop in My Ear?

It’s not Rice Krispies that’s for certain. When the pressure in your ears changes – whether from a change in altitude, going underwater, or just yawning – you may hear crackling or popping noises. These noises are caused by a tiny part of your ear called the eustachian tube. The crackling is caused by mucus-lined passageways opening up, allowing air and fluid to move and equalize the pressure in your ears.

Occasionally, like 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 ordinarily an automatic process (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 may require medical intervention like surgery.

What Does it Mean When I Hear Vibrations in My Ear?

Sometimes tinnitus is experienced as a vibration in the ears. Technically, tinnitus is the medical term for when somebody hears unusual sounds, such as vibrations, in their ears that don’t come from any external sources. It’s generally characterized as a ringing in the ears and can, in some instances, be minimal, and in others, debilitating.

Is There Anything I Can do?

Once again, if you have hearing aids, you should first check those. There may be a number of reasons that you would hear these noises: the hearing aids aren’t sitting properly within your ears, the volume is too loud, your hair is brushing against them, or your batteries need to be charged. But if you don’t have hearing aids and you’re hearing this type of sound, it may also be the result of accumulated earwax.

It seems logical that too much wax could make it difficult to hear and cause itchiness or even inner ear infections, but how can earwax cause a sound? If it’s touching your eardrum, it can actually restrict the eardrum’s ability to function, which is what causes the buzzing or ringing. Luckily, dealing with earwax is frequently pretty simple.

Reach out to us if you have unusual sounds in your ears. We can check your hearing aid to make certain it’s working correctly.

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The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.

Medical information dates as new research comes out all the time - if you have a concern about your hearing, please call us.

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