Q. My symptom are a little hard to explain, however for the previous couple months I have been getting what I can only refer to as a popping sound in my ears.
It sounds a bit like when you get bubbles from the bath in your ears and can hear them ‘popping’. The sound is not constant, however reoccurs fairly often at all times of day and night, although I do not notice it as much while I am working. I am working abroad at the minute, makings it tough to get to see a doctor.
As such I would value it if you can let me know if you believe I must make a journey home to get this taken a look at or whether it does not sound too serious.
What Causes Crackling Noise in the Ear?
The commonest things first, so let us begin with ear wax. Build up of ear wax is often observed in lots of individuals. When the ear wax gets affected and dry and when it lies over the ear drum, crackling noise is produced due to vibration of ear drum.
The 2nd most common cause for crackling or popping noise is Eustachian tube dysfunction. Each ear has small Eustachian tube that connects the middle ear to the back of throat.
The primary function of Eustachian tube is to keep the balance between pressure outside the ear and pressure inside the ear. Whenever there is an imbalance of pressure, the tube opens and releases the pressure built up inside the middle ear. This generally happens when you fly in a Plane or dive under the sea.
However in some cases, the Eustachian tube remains closed even when it needs to stay open. This is called Eustachian tube breakdown. This takes place when the fluid in the center ear ends up being thick and obstructs the tube.
The pressure inside the ear ends up being high and when you open your mouth or yawn or gulp it produces a crackling noise to launch the pressure. Eustachian tube dysfunction normally takes place due to allergic cold and cough.
TMJ (temporo-mandibular joint) disorder can also result into crackling noise in the ear. The joint lies simply in front of the ear. The noise from this joint can simulate as sound from the ears.
Convulsion of muscles inside the ear can be a factor for clicking and crackling noise in the ear.
Why is My Ear Making Crackling Sounds?
Crackling noise in ear is not regular. It may indicate something incorrect with your ears. Though a typical problem, crackling sound in the ear can cause lot of annoyance and distress for the victim. This uncommon sound typically happens when you open your mouth for yawning or while gulping the food. The noise resembles rubbing of papers.
Together with crackling, there might be associated pain in the ears in some cases, while lots of patients might just suffer crackling sound.
The failure to hear properly might cause communication troubles and the individual might needlessly scream as if he is deaf. While there might be a serious reason for occurrence of such type of noise, crackling sound might merely be manifestation of affected ear wax or a blocked Eustachian tube of the middle ear. So why does crackling sound take place in the ear?
From how you explain your symptoms, I think you are suffering from a typical issue referred to as ‘Eustachian tube dysfunction’ or ETD.
The sounds that you hear in your ears are as a result of the fluid in the middle ear becoming thickened, generally as the result of a cough or cold.
There is a fine tube that runs from the middle ear to the back of the throat called the ‘eustachian tube’ and this ends up being obstructed by this sticky fluid, or mucus.
This in turn results in a pressure build up in the ear which is launched when you talk, swallow, blow your nose or eat. This is why your ears pop.
Sometimes individuals struggling with Eustachian tube dysfunction get crackling noises in their ears or deafness.
The deafness is generally temporary and is as a result of the typical versatile ear drum, or tympanic membrane, becoming stiff as a result of the increased pressure behind it.
The ear drum is therefore unable to move when a sound wave strikes it therefore the noise is smothered when it is heard.
The crackling is because of the mucus moving within the middle ear.
It is the clog of the Eustachian tube that causes pain in the ears when flying as the changes in air pressure make it challenging for the pressure throughout the ear drum to equalise.
This causes the ear drum to be extended, which hurts. There is nobody effective treatment for Eustachian tube dysfunction, however basic steps such as breathing in steam regularly can be extremely efficient.
I normally suggest that you steam with your mouth open to permit the maximum quantity of steam up in the nasal passages and the Eustachian tube till you can either hear your ears cracking or up until your nose starts to run.
You should then blow one nostril at a time till there is nothing delegated blow!
Medications that can help include decongestants such as pseudoephidrine, readily available in tablet, or nose spray form.This can be purchased nonprescription. Additionally, your doctor could recommend a steroid nose spray to help.
I would assure you that Eustachian tube dysfunction has the tendency to run a long, differing cause, however normally has no long-lasting effects on the hearing.
If your symptoms persist, I’m sure your doctor would be only too delighted to examine you over when you are next home on leave.
How to Get Rid of Crackling Sound in Ear?
- Tidy your ears: cleaning your ears at routine periods helps to reduce the buildup of wax in the ear canal. You can use ear buds to get rid of the wax or you can also clean your ear with ear wash bulbs. Prior to using any approaches, always aim to soften the wax by putting wax liquifying ear drops for a day or two.
- Open your mouth or extend your jaw wide open. This adjusts the pressure inside the ear with that of the environmental pressure.
- Valsava maneuver: it is a typical procedure followed by scuba divers. In this procedure the person first squeezes his nostril to prevent the air from going into. He then takes a deep breath and releases it in a mild manner while keeping the nostrils closed. In this procedure the force applied ought to be gentle, because excessive force might harm the ear drum.
- Putting few drops of Mullein ear oil will also help to ease the majority of ear problems.
- Inhalation of steam and rinsing warm seawater helps in case of cold and cough. It likewise allows easy drain of gathered mucus.
Good luck! Have a nice weekend!
I know when your fingers and knees crackling, but my ears? It would be funny if this problem did not become my headache. There are many scientific terms in the article. Looks like I need to see a specialist.