Ear Noises (Thumping, Popping, Crackling, Crunching Sound) Explained

Ranjeet KumarReviewed by Mr. Ranjeet Kumar Sr. Audiologist, Speech Therapist & Cochlear Implant Specialist, BASLP on Sep 12th, 2021 written by Editorial Team

Hearing strange noises in your ears can be quite overwhelming. But, there is a scientific reason as to why some people experience ear noises which are painful and unbearable at the same time.

A lot of people often complain about hearing sounds occurring inside their ears, either in one or both the ears.

However, they are clueless about knowing how it happens, or why does it occur. This is actually a condition which is called ‘Tinnitus’ in medical terms and can be of different types.

You can purchase the latest hearing aids at a fair price through HearingSol, If you need any assistance or you have a query regarding Ear Noises and Tinnitus or Hearing Loss, feel free to call us at +91-9327901950. We are always here to help you.

When a person is suffering from Tinnitus, he or she will usually hear a ringing noise or any other type of noise that is uncomfortable for the ear and may happen either in one or both the ears.

ringing of ears
source: hear.com

It is, thus, a common symptom that indicates that it is an ear infection. Several medical studies also call it ‘Meniere’s Disease (MD)’. To prevent and make stop ringing in ear you should be wearing earplugs especially while going to the noisy area like musical concert.

Meniere’s Disease (MD) is basically a disorder of the inner ear, thus, it can also be associated with Tinnitus because of the common symptoms which arise in both of their cases.

Since it is an infection of the ear, therefore, the affected persons are cautioned not to take this lightly and visit a professional doctor immediately for treatment before it gets worse.


Types of Noises In The Ear

You may experience the following noises in the ears which seem to torment as well as irritating.

types of ear noises

1. Crackling or clicking noise

The crackling of ear is a sensation of sound causing distress, lack of sleep, anxiety, poor performance at work and decreased mood, etc. that occurs within the delicate structures of the ear.

2. Whooshing

It is a type of rhythmic thumping, throbbing, or whooshing only you can hear that is often in time with the heartbeat. Most people with pulsatile tinnitus hear the sound in one ear, though some hear it in both. The sound is the result of turbulent flow in blood vessels in the neck or head.

3. Ringing

The sounds like ringing, whistling, weird sounds of wind, roaring, hissing, humming, sizzling, etc is caused due to tinnitus. You may hear these ringing or buzzing sounds when you are exposed to the loud noise for a longer period of time.

4. Swishing

It is estimated that 50 million Americans suffer from tinnitus, a medical condition that manifests as a persistent ringing, whooshing, or swishing sound in your ear. Because the sound originates from inside the ear, people suffering from tinnitus may feel like an ocean is roaring inside their heads.

5. Rushing

Blood vessel problems, such as high blood pressure, an aneurysm or a tumor, and blockage of the ear canal or eustachian tube can amplify the sound of your heartbeat in your ears and you may hear rushing sounds in your ear.

6. Bubble Popping noise in an ear

Popping of ears

Popping noise is due to the mucus moving within the middle ear. It is the blockage of the Eustachian tube that causes pain in the ears when flying as the changes in air pressure make it difficult for the pressure across the eardrum to equalize. This causes the eardrum to be stretched, which is painful.


What Causes Hearing of Such Tormenting Ear Noises?

Usually, the kind of noises that are produced inside the ear may often be in the nature of sounds like whistling, popping, buzzing, hissing, crackling, blowing, roaring, ting, sizzling, ringing, humming, booming and several other types.

These various kinds of sounds are of the non-outside form and can thus, torment many individuals, especially those who are affected by the infection in the ear.

The infection in the ear, also called Tinnitus, has its own share of causes. It mainly occurs in persons due to one or more reasons, which are:

As you may know, our ears are a sensitive organ and even the slightest damage, whether direct or indirect, can render the ears to malfunction. In certain cases, such damages may even cause the ears to lose the ability to hear permanently, if not treated.

Estimates show that more than a million individuals around the world suffer from Tinnitus. Those persons who experience hearing of unwanted sounds that have nothing to do with the outside factors, do not find them pleasing.

Sometimes, the sounds may occur temporarily, which may range from a few seconds to a few minutes. However, individuals who experience this sort of a problem on a regular basis, hear sounds which lasts for over 20 minutes, at times, for a much longer duration.


How to Get Rid of the Noises in the Ear?

In order to get rid of these irritating noises in your ears, you may perform certain physical activities and exercises. You may get relief from these exercises.

1. How to Stop Your Ears from Popping?

  • Hold your nose, close your mouth.
  • Turn your head to the right until your chin touches your shoulder.
  • Swallow hard until your left ear pops.
  • Turn your head to the left until your chin touches your shoulder.
  • Swallow hard until your right ear pops.

2. How to Get Rid of Crackling Noise of Ears?

  • Remove excess earwax from the ear canal.
  • Chewing gum, yawning, swallowing, and breathing from the nostrils will stop your ears from producing clicking sounds.
  • Try stretching the jaw
  • Perform Valsalva Maneuver

3. Tinnitus Relief Exercises

Before starting the exercises sit comfortably in a quiet place. You may perform exercises while listening to music. Wear comfortable clothes during exercise.

a) Progressive muscle relaxation – While sitting down, focus on the muscles in one area of your body – like your right foot. Inhale and tighten only the muscles you are concentrating on for 8 seconds. Release them by suddenly letting go.

Let the tightness and pain flow out of the muscles while you slowly exhale. Continue this progression systematically from your head down to the feet.

b) Deep breathing: Perform these activities 20 times

  • Exhale completely through your mouth
  • Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds
  • Hold your breath for 4 seconds
  • Exhale through your mouth for 6-8 seconds

c) Sensory imagination – After the relaxation of deep breathing exercises, close your eyes, and continue deep breathing and imagine yourself in a comfortable environment situation.

You have to imagine by using your senses like the smell of the flowers in the garden, feel of the air, the taste of your favorite fruit, etc.

4. Yoga Asanas to Get Relief from Irritating Noises

Performing the following yoga and asanas on a regular basis will resist your ears to produce irritating noises.

  • Trikonasana
  • Padangusthasana
  • Adho Mukha Svanasana
  • Ustrasana
  • Gomukhasana
  • Bhujangasana
  • Viparita Karani
  • Matsyasana

Signs and Symptoms That Show You Have Tinnitus

Persons who suffer from Tinnitus usually show certain signs and symptoms. As like many other diseases and disorders, when a person is affected by an infection in the ear, he or she tends to experience:

  • Frequent episodes of dizziness
  • The world is spinning around him or her
  • Ringing sound in the ear(s)
  • Loss of hearing ability
  • Fullness in the ear(s)
  • A headache
  • Running nose
  • Fever
  • Hearing loss

The feeling of the world spinning around the affected person, which in this case is called vertigo, the time period of its initial occurrence is usually between 40 and 60 seconds. However, if the problem persists, the affected person will experience ear noises which could range from 20 minutes to even a couple of hours.

Tinnitus or ear noises can be temporary, or in certain cases, may become a permanent problem. The problem can afflict so severely that leading a normal life can become cumbersome.


Getting Proper Treatment For Tinnitus

Tinnitus can best be treated during its initial stages. You will need to seek treatment from a professional doctor or audiologist who specializes in ENT (ear, nose, and throat).

Tinnitus may sometimes, be the first sign of partial hearing loss, especially in affected persons. In other cases, it may also be a side-effect of using other forms of medicines or drugs, if taken for a longer period of time.

In this situation, it is strongly advised that you seek a doctor immediately to avoid further complications and/or permanent damage to the ear(s).

Visiting healthcare is the best option for treating noises which occur in the ears, rather than committing yourself to self-medication, which could be dangerous and may leave your ears impaired for the remainder of your life.

A good reason for this is you will get proper treatment which can also be helpful in eliminating such noises that you hear and find unbearable.

Moreover, the medicines which are prescribed by professional doctors will help you ease the pain and could even be used in the effective treatment of Tinnitus.

Although there is no cure yet for Tinnitus, treatments may help persons cope better with the condition. One such common treatment is the use of effective hearing aids, which are helpful equipment and are, of course, portable.

The equipment carefully adjusts outside sound levels and make it easier for you to hear better.

Additional measures you need to take on your part

In addition to availing proper treatment for Tinnitus from specialized doctors, there are other things as well that you need to do as effective measures for healing and/or preventing ear noises.

  • Keep your ears clean and free from earwax buildup.
  • Avoid using cotton swabs for cleaning your ears as this will only push the earwax deeper and cause problems.
  • Avoid direct exposure to loud sounds and noises from stereo headphones, including environmental noises.
  • Make a habit of exercising every day, which is beneficial for your body both externally and internally.
  • Get your blood pressure checked every 4-6 months and ensure that your blood pressure is controlled.
  • Avoid letting water or any fluid clog inside the ears, especially when bathing, swimming, etc.
  • Eat healthy diets and nutrition for hearing health.
  • Protect your ears from hearing protection devices.

Conclusion

Taking proper care of your well-being should be of utmost importance. As such, your hearing ability is too precious to be treated carelessly.

We understand how difficult it is when we heard a continuous sound in the ear without presenting any sound in the environment, that highly interfere with our daily lifestyle.

That’s why you should not ignore these ear noises and consult your nearby audiologists to get rid of them.

You can purchase the latest hearing aids at a fair price through HearingSol, If you need any assistance or you have a query regarding Ear Noises and Tinnitus or Hearing Loss, feel free to call us at +91-9327901950. We are always here to help you.



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