Your ears are meant to hear many things, but what if what you are hearing isn’t a good thing? The weird sounds that may be filling your ears could indicate that something is wrong. It may be a medical condition, or it could be one of the more natural noises your ears make. Without the help of an audiologist, you may not realize that the sensations occurring could lead to hearing loss.
Rumbling and ringing are two of the more common noises people experience, but buzzing, popping, clicking, crackling, and a pulsing or thumping sound are common too. Read on to find out what could be causing your hearing disturbance, and which sounds are worth a prompt call to your audiologist.
Why Is My Ear Making Noise?
Ringing, rumbling, buzzing, popping, clicking, and crackling are some of the more common noises you may experience in your ears. Though not always indicative of ear trouble, it is best to pay attention when something seems off with your sense of hearing. Here are some common ear sounds and what they may mean.
Rumbling
If you are experiencing rumbling in your ear, it may sound like a strong wind is blowing in your ear or a rushing river is flowing by. Though this may seem unnatural, the rumbling is generally related to the protective measures your body takes to protect your hearing. If a noise is too loud, it could lead to damage in your inner ear, impacting your ability to hear well. The rumbling you may experience is the response of the body to muffle or diminish the sounds you are hearing.
Your inner ear contains muscles called tensor tympani, and when these muscles contract, it can limit the vibration of the eardrum. As the eardrum vibrates, it sends incoming sound waves into the middle ear for processing up to the brain.
When the vibrations are stunted, it has a dampening effect that results in a rumbling sound. It’s common to experience this sensation or sound when yelling, coughing, chewing, or yawning. It is possible that underlying medical conditions are creating this noise. When rumbling happens often enough to be bothersome, it is sometimes diagnosed as middle ear myoclonus, a condition involving spasms of the tensor tympani or the stapedius, the two small muscles inside the middle ear.
An ear infection occurs when the middle ear fills with the fluid that hasn’t properly drained out of the eardrum. Inflammation and redness occur within the ear as infection sets in, but an individual may experience mild to severe pain in the ear, have a sensation of fullness in the ear, or have difficulty with hearing. Any of these conditions could lead to a rumbling sound in the ear.
Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that can result in an individual experiencing ringing in the ear, dizziness, congestion or the feeling of fullness inside the ear, or hearing loss. Both of these conditions can be treated to restore hearing and remove discomfort. It is also possible that an individual can control rumbling sounds, as a handful of people are able to contract their inner ear muscles at will. This ability may lead to a subconscious reflex that creates a rumbling or roaring noise when taking part in a certain activity or when specifically focusing on your ears and hearing. While this seems unusual, it does give the individual the ability to protect their ear from loud noises. A person who can tense or flex these muscles may be able to redefine or mask specific sounds in order to hear others.
Ringing
For those who hear ringing in their ears, it may be due to a condition called tinnitus. Symptoms of this condition often have a person hearing sounds even when nothing is present that could be making the sound. It isn’t just ringing, either. Someone may hear roaring, hissing, chirping, or whooshing with tinnitus. It has the potential to severely impact a person’s hearing, but the condition varies according to the cause of tinnitus. Some have problems with the tensor tympani muscles while others deal with blood vessel abnormalities within the ear. Tinnitus could be the cause of rumbling sounds, especially if the sensation occurs when yawning or chewing. Tinnitus can be diagnosed by an audiologist or physician. For a fuller breakdown of tinnitus types and treatment options, see our guide to tinnitus.
Buzzing
A buzzing sound is one of the more common forms of tinnitus. It often happens alongside, or instead of, classic ringing, and it can point to the same underlying causes: loud noise exposure, age-related hearing changes, earwax buildup, or certain medications. If buzzing is tied to earwax, it typically eases once an audiologist removes the blockage. Buzzing that is constant, worsens, or comes with hearing loss is worth mentioning to your audiologist.
Popping
Popping is usually about pressure rather than a hearing problem. It most often comes from eustachian tube dysfunction, when the tube that equalizes pressure between your middle ear and the outside air does not open and close normally. Colds, allergies, sinus congestion, and altitude changes, such as flying or driving through the mountains, are common triggers. Swallowing, yawning, or chewing gum can sometimes relieve it, and popping that lasts more than a few weeks is worth having checked.
Clicking
Clicking can come from earwax pressing against the eardrum, especially when you chew or move your jaw, but it also has causes that have nothing to do with wax: eustachian tube dysfunction, TMJ (jaw joint) problems, and middle ear myoclonus, a rare condition where the tensor tympani or stapedius muscle spasms and creates a rapid, rhythmic clicking or fluttering sound unrelated to your heartbeat. Clicking that comes and goes with jaw movement points toward TMJ or earwax. Clicking that is steady, unrelated to jaw movement, and does not resolve on its own is worth an audiologist or ENT evaluation.
Crackling
Crackling shares many of the same causes as clicking and popping: earwax buildup, eustachian tube dysfunction, fluid behind the eardrum from a cold or infection, and TMJ tension. Crackling that appears with a cold and clears up on its own is usually not a concern. Crackling that persists longer than a week, or that comes with hearing loss, pain, or dizziness, should be evaluated by an audiologist.
Muffling
It is possible for the pressure in the inner ear to change, leading to a feeling of fullness. This sensation may be accompanied by ringing, as well as itching, pain, lightheadedness, or drainage from the ear. Feelings of fullness can be caused by a number of things, such as congestion, a build-up of earwax, infection, or excess fluid in the ear. For most of the conditions, treatment takes care of the symptoms and restore normal hearing sensations. However, since an infection or fluid imbalance could be the cause of the muffled or muted hearing condition, it is best to seek medical treatment.
Pulsatile Tinnitus: When to See a Doctor Right Away
Pulsatile tinnitus sounds like a rhythmic whooshing, thumping, or pulsing that matches your heartbeat, and it is different from the other sounds on this list. Earwax and eustachian tube pressure are rarely the primary cause. It usually points to a blood flow issue near the ear, such as narrowed or malformed blood vessels or high blood pressure, or, less commonly, to increased pressure inside the skull. Exercise, pregnancy, and thyroid conditions can also bring it on temporarily. Because pulsatile tinnitus is tied to your circulatory system rather than your ears alone, it is the one sound on this list that calls for a prompt medical evaluation rather than a wait-and-see approach.
When to See a Doctor About Ear Noises
Most of the sounds described above are harmless and pass on their own. See an audiologist or ENT promptly if a sound is heartbeat-timed, if it comes on suddenly with hearing loss, if it is limited to one ear, or if it is joined by dizziness, pain, or drainage. The same is true after a head or neck injury. An audiologist can determine which of these sounds is a passing nuisance and which needs a closer look.
How Can I Fix My Hearing?
Ear ringing, rumbling, buzzing, popping, clicking, crackling, and muffled hearing can be more than nuisances if left untreated. While these conditions aren’t generally associated with long-term hearing damage, it is important to discuss any symptoms you are having with an audiologist or an ear, nose, and throat physician. Happy Ears Hearing Center offers patients high-quality and personalized hearing assessments, treating common conditions like tinnitus and addressing hearing loss. Make an appointment to have your ears assessed and your hearing evaluated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Causes Buzzing in the Ear?
Buzzing is a common form of tinnitus. It can come from loud noise exposure, age-related hearing changes, certain medications, or earwax pressing against the eardrum. If earwax is the cause, buzzing usually eases once an audiologist removes the blockage.
Why Does My Ear Pop?
Ear popping is usually caused by eustachian tube dysfunction, when the tube that equalizes pressure in your middle ear does not open and close normally. Colds, allergies, and altitude changes are common triggers, and swallowing or yawning often provides relief.
What Causes Clicking or Crackling in the Ear?
Clicking and crackling can come from earwax, eustachian tube dysfunction, TMJ tension, or middle ear myoclonus, a rare muscle spasm in the middle ear. Sounds that come and go with jaw movement often point to TMJ or wax, and steady clicking unrelated to jaw movement is worth having checked.
Can Earwax Cause These Ear Noises?
Yes, in some cases. Earwax buildup can cause buzzing, clicking, or crackling, especially when it presses on the eardrum or shifts with jaw movement. It is not, however, a typical cause of popping or pulsatile tinnitus.
