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Crackling in Ear

By March 30, 2021November 25th, 2021No Comments

Crackling in Ear

Do you hear a crackling sound in your ears?  If you’re wearing hearing aids, you may need to have the earpieces adjusted or fitted more securely. If you don’t wear a hearing aid, but hear crackles in your ears, it’s time to see a specialist to find out what could be causing this puzzling sound.

Experiencing crackling in ear can be an indication of something more serious. Crackling in ear could also be caused by changes in air pressure or the weather. The most common cause is earwax buildup, which can occur when water gets trapped inside the ear canal and mixes with earwax. This causes a bubbling sensation that results in hearing strange sounds like popping or cracking noises.

It’s important to understand that there are many potential causes of this symptom. Fortunately, in most cases, the cause is not serious and can be easily treated.

In order to determine what is causing the crackling in ear, an audiologist will need to perform an examination of the ear canal and eardrum. This may include using an otoscope or tympanometer (a device used for measuring air pressure) as well as other diagnostic tests such as a CT scan or MRI. The diagnosis will help determine whether treatment is necessary and if so, how best to proceed with treatment options.

 

Common Causes of Crackling in Ears

Temporomandibular Joint and Muscle Disorder (TMJ)

The temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder (TMJ) affects more than 10 million people in the United States, causing stiffness or limiting jaw movement. More commonly associated with pain and headaches, a common symptom of TMJ is hearing a crackling sound in the ears.

Not many people know that a jaw disorder can cause stiffness and limit the movement of the jaws. There are also other symptoms associated with TMJ, including pain in your ears or ringing in the ears, otherwise known as tinnitus.

 

Impacted Earwax

Earwax is a secretion that protects the inner ear from foreign particles. If it accumulates and becomes impacted, it can cover the eardrum and cause you to experience crackling sounds in your ear.

 

Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD)

The Eustachian tube is crucial to our ears. When it becomes blocked, we are susceptible to pressure buildup within the ear and middle ear infection.  When a tube becomes blocked or doesn’t open and close properly due to allergies, colds, or sinus infections – it can lead to something called Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD), which is fairly common.If you ever experience a feeling of fullness in your ears or an ache behind your eyes, please take note that this may be due to ETD.

 

Meniere’s Disease

Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that can cause vertigo, deafness, and even crackling in the ears. While most people are only affected by one ear at a time, it can lead to progressive hearing loss. Symptoms include sudden spells of dizziness with varying frequencies and durations each time.

It’s not a surprise that Meniere’s disease is one of the most common causes of high frequency hearing loss in adults. With symptoms such as vertigo, ear fullness, and crackling in the ears, it can be difficult to detect this condition until it starts to significantly affect your hearing. While many people think only one ear is affected by Meniere’s disease, it can cause progressive deafness and even vary from person to person with each occurrence. It’s important that you get checked if even just one symptom seems off; catching this before the symptoms get worse could make all the difference for you!

 

How do I stop my ears from crackling?

The ear is a delicate organ that can be easily damaged by loud noises, infections, or even poor posture.

Ear problems are common and often go untreated because they’re easy to ignore. But if you suffer from persistent ear pain, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), dizziness or vertigo, hearing loss or other symptoms of an ear disorder, it’s time to take action.

First aid or home remedies may include popping your ears by swallowing, yawning or chewing, nasal irrigation, TMJ exercises, OTC products, earwax removal, etc. However, if the crackling in ear still seems to be really persistent and not going away on its own, it’s time to consult an ear doctor or audiologist.

If you’re in Osseo MN and find yourself or a family member dealing with a crackling in ear issue, Hearing Health Clinic can help evaluate any health issues related to your ears and recommend treatment options for relieving symptoms and preventing further damage.

 

Will ear crackling go away?

The sound of crackling can be a sign that something is going wrong. While most people find this experience to be temporary, frequent episodes of ear crackling may require you to consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment recommendations.

 

How long does ear crackling last?

The crackling or popping sound in the ears is usually due to a pressure equalization and movement of the ear drum. This condition can usually be fixed within a few days or weeks after having a cold, BUT if crackling in ear still persists even after the cold has subsided, a visit to a doctor is recommended.

 

Crackling in ear diagnosis

Doctors often use a otoscope to see inside the ear and diagnose the cause of crackling. A doctor will start by conducting a physical exam and taking medical history, but in some cases they can make an accurate diagnosis based on this alone. In other instances, specialized tests-such as hearing tests-can help determine if there is anything wrong with your ears.

 

Hearing Health Clinic, Osseo MN

Crackling in the ear could be caused by many things: an infection; fluid buildup; injury; aging of the ear canal (which causes narrowing); or even changes in air pressure due to flying.

Treatment options vary depending on what is causing the issue and will also depend on whether you are experiencing temporary or chronic symptoms. Experiencing crackling in ear, especially if it’s really frequent, is not something to be taken lightly.

Crackling in the ears is usually a sign that there’s fluid buildup somewhere in your body, and it needs to be treated. Ear doctors can create holes for the fluid to escape or use suction to remove it.

If you’re in Osseo, MN and need to see an audiologist to deal with crackling in ear and other related symptoms, Hearing Health Clinic is just one call or appointment away.