What Are Those Noises in My Ear?

Do you ever hear noises that seem to come out of nowhere, like crackling, buzzing or thumping? Possibly, if you use hearing aids, they might need a fitting or need adjustment. But if you don’t have hearing aids the noises are originating from inside your ear. But don't panic. Our ears are a lot more complex than most of us may think. Different sounds you might be hearing inside of your ears can indicate different things. Here are a few of the most common. Although most are harmless (and not long lasting), if any of these sounds are lasting, painful, or otherwise interfering with your quality of life, it’s a smart strategy to talk to a hearing expert.

Popping or Crackling

When there's a pressure change in your ears, whether it's from altitude, going underwater or simply yawning, you might hear popping or crackling sounds. The eustachian tube, a very small part of your ear, is where these sounds are produced. The crackling happens when these mucus-lined passageways open up, enabling fluid and air to circulate and relieving the pressure in your ears. It’s an automatic process, but in some situations, like if you have inflammation from allergies, a cold, or an ear infection, the passageway can literally get gummed up. Surgery is sometimes needed in severe cases when the blockage isn't helped by antibiotics or decongestants. You should probably see a hearing professional if you feel pressure or persistent pain.

Ringing or Buzzing is it Tinnitus?

Once again, if you have hearing aids, you might hear these kinds of sounds if they aren’t fitting properly in your ears, the volume is too high, or you have low batteries. But if you don’t have hearing aids and you’re hearing this kind of sound, it could be because of excess earwax. It makes sense that too much wax could make it difficult to hear, and cause itchiness or even infections, but how could it make a sound? If wax is touching your eardrum, it can restrict the eardrum’s ability to function, that’s what causes the ringing or buzzing. But don't worry, the extra wax can be removed professionally. (This is not a DIY task!) Tinnitus is the term for lasting buzzing or ringing. There are a few types of tinnitus including when it's caused by earwax. Tinnitus isn’t itself a disease or disorder; it’s a symptom that indicates something else is happening with your health. Besides the wax buildup, tinnitus can also be associated with anxiety and depression. Diagnosing and treating the underlying health problem can help alleviate tinnitus; talk to a hearing specialist to learn more.

Rumbling

This one’s much less common, and if you can hear it, you’re the one causing the sound to happen! Have you ever observed how sometimes, if you have a really big yawn, you hear a low rumbling? There are little muscles in the ear that contract in order to minimize the internal volume of certain natural actions such as your own voice or chewing or yawning, It's the tightening of these muscles in reaction to these natural noises that we hear as rumbling. We’re not claiming you chew too noisily, it’s just that those noises are so near to your ears that without these muscles, the volume level would be damaging. (And since never speaking or chewing isn’t a good solution, we’ll stick with the muscles, thanks!) These muscles can be controlled by some people, even though it's very rare, they're called tensor tympani, and they're able to produce that rumble whenever they want.

Thumping or Pulsing

If you occasionally feel like you’re hearing your heartbeat inside your ears, you’re most likely right. Some of the body’s biggest veins are very close to your ears, and if your heart rate’s up, whether it's from a tough workout or an important job interview, the sound of your pulse will be picked up by your ears. Pulsatile tinnitus is the name for this, and unlike other types of tinnitus, it’s one that not just you hear, if you go to see a hearing professional, they will be able to hear it as well. If you're experiencing pulsatile tinnitus but you haven't worked out recently, you need to see a specialist because that's not common. Like other kinds of tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus is a symptom rather than a disease; if it persists, it might indicate a health issue. But if you just had a good workout, you should stop hearing it as soon as your heart rate returns to normal.