You are not the only one who hears the sound of crackling or buzzing in your ear. This is not a disease in itself, but is a sign of another problem.
This can be a simple cold, or it could be a sign of a major problem, such as inflammation of the lining of the brain, or meningitis. In the following, we will tell you the reasons for making ear sounds and how you can get rid of these ear sounds.
Hearing ear cracking is occasionally common in the community, but if ear cracking continues for a long time, it will affect the comfort and even the social life of the affected person.
what you will read next :
Why does ear cracking occur?
The causes of tinnitus can be divided into the following:
- Compression of ear wax:
Ear wax is a physiological material to protect the structure of our ears. Ear wax is automatically removed from the ear, but the use of cotton swabs or placing earplugs in the ear causes more ear mass to be produced and compressed. When the ear wax is compressed, it covers the tympanic membrane and can cause ear cracking.
- Eustachian tube dysfunction:
The Eustachian tube is a thin, narrow canal that connects the middle ear (the space behind the tympanic membrane) to the throat and plays an important role in balancing the two spaces. This canal is normally closed and opens when swallowed
If for any reason the normal function of this canal is disrupted, a person can suffer from ear cracking. For example, the Eustachian tube can be blocked due to the following events:
- Sinusitis
- Simple viral colds
- Seasonal allergies
- Ménière’s disease:
This condition is a disorder of the inner ear (increased fluid pressure inside the semicircular canals of the inner ear) and has three symptoms:
- Tinnitus, which is perceived as a continuous sound in the skull or ear
- Sudden dizziness and an attack that is debilitating
- Hearing loss
Sometimes the patient feels full in his ear. The most common age for this disease is twenty to sixty, but it can occur at any age.
- Jaw or muscle joint disorders:
Problems with the temporomandibular joint (temporal region) and surrounding muscles
Diagnosis of ear cracking
Taking an accurate history by a doctor along with a specialized observation and examination of the ear is very helpful for the doctor to diagnose the cause of the ear noise. Sometimes a hearing test may be used to differentiate possible causes.
Ear cracking treatment
The treatment of ear cracking is divided into the following:
Treatments that should be prescribed and performed by your doctor:
- Ear drops:
Your doctor may prescribe drops to heal the inflammation or to treat the infection and to soften the compressed ear mass.
- Extraction of compact mass:
Sometimes, while examining your ears, the doctor prefers to remove the compressed wax manually with a special hook.
- Insert the tube in the ear:
Occasionally, Eustachian tube dysfunction and other conditions can upset the pressure balance in your ear, and the doctor uses a thin tube to both facilitate fluid outflow from the ear and to balance pressure.
- Opening the Eustachian tube with a delicate catheter balloon:
This method is also useful for treating Eustachian tube dysfunction
- If the disorder is TMJ, a bite guard is usually prescribed.
Home remedies for ear cracking
- Use of anticonvulsants that do not require a doctor’s prescription:
These drugs can help clear the Eustachian tube, but it is best to consult your doctor before taking them.
- Gargling salt water:
This can also improve the function of the sinuses and Eustachian tubes
- Do not use cotton swabs as they will cause a compressed earwax
- Avoid exposure to irritants if you have seasonal allergies
When to see a doctor?
In the following cases, it is necessary to see a doctor:
- If your tinnitus is loud
- Recurrence of symptoms after recovery
- Fever and pain
- Hearing loss or loss
The final words:
Sometimes some tumors can cause tinnitus or continuous sounds in the ear, so if your symptoms do not improve, see a specialist.
It is interesting to know that the proximity of one of the most important arteries of the body to the ear bone chamber causes people with high blood pressure to hear the sound of blood passing through their ears.