Hearing Health Blog

Bowl of Rice Krispies making noise in your ear.

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 essential facts.

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 fitted correctly. For everyone else, tinnitus might be the answer.

Even though we mostly 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.

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

We can tell you this – it’s not Rice Krispies. When the pressure in your ears changes – whether from an altitude change, going underwater, or simply yawning – you might hear crackling or popping sounds. These noises are caused by a small part of your ear known as 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, such as when you’re dealing with allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, an overabundance of mucus in your system can gum up the eustachian tubes and interfere with what is normally an automatic process (don’t forget, that there’s a connection between your ears, throat, and nose). Medical assistance, like surgery, is sometimes necessary in severe cases where nothing else has helped clear the blockage.

I’m Hearing Vibration in my Ears – What Does That Mean?

Sometimes tinnitus manifests 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 typically described as a ringing in the ears and can, in some cases, be mild, and in others, debilitating.

What Should I do About Sounds in my Ear

If you use hearing aids, once again, checking those is the first step. There may be a number of reasons that you would hear these sounds: the hearing aids aren’t sitting properly inside of your ears, the volume is too high, your hair is brushing against them, or your batteries are running low. But if you don’t use hearing aids and you’re hearing this type of noise, it may also be caused by excess earwax.

It makes sense that excessive wax could make it difficult to hear and cause irritation or even inner ear infections, but how can earwax make a sound? If it’s pushing against your eardrum, it can actually hinder the eardrum’s ability to function, which is what causes the ringing or buzzing. The good thing is, earwax problems are easily fixed.

Reach out to us if you have unusual noises in your ears. If your hearing aids are not functioning correctly we can help with that.

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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.
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