How to Get Rid of Crackling Sounds in Ears

Ear problems can be terribly distracting. One of the most frustrating ear conditions can be a crackling sound in the ear. Your ear might be crackling for various reasons. Knowing what to do when experiencing this symptom can help you decide when and if you need to see the doctor.

While crackling in the ear can be related to a problem that will go away on its own, it can also be a sign of more serious health concerns.

What Causes Crackling in the Ear?

There are a few conditions that might cause you to experience crackling in the ear. Some of these are related to health conditions, and some are related to dysfunctions inside the ear.

Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

This is a condition associated with the shape of the ear canal. When the inner ear is too narrow or becomes blocked, your eustachian tubes can’t correctly drain fluid off the middle ear. This can lead to crackling in the ears and more severe symptoms like loss of balance or fluid draining from the outer ear.

Covid

When you get any kind of serious upper respiratory infection, such as Covid, you might experience stuffy ears or ears that sound like they are crackling. This can be accompanied by sinus pain and feelings of lightheadedness or disorientation.

Ear Infection

Acute otitis media is an infection of the middle ear. This is more common in children but can impact adults. Your ears might sound crackly when you have an ear infection, and if the infection is severe, you might not be able to hear very well. 

You could also experience drainage from the ear, ear pain, loss of balance, and pain and opening your mouth or pressing on your face near your jaw. You could also be dizzy or feel nauseous and run a fever.

Earwax Buildup

Some people are more prone to excessive earwax buildup than others. When there is an earwax blockage in your ear, you might experience a crackling sound, or you could also feel like you can’t hear as well. Your ear might also itch or feel plugged.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders

When your jawbone is inflamed at the hinges, it can cause referred pain to the inner ear. The inner ear is located right by your jaw hinge, so when the jaw hinge is inflamed, the inner ear might hurt or be impacted in other ways. 

If the crackling sound only happens when you are chewing or opening your mouth, it might be related to TMJ.

Treatment for Crackling in the Ear

When the reason for the crackling in your ear is an infection, you will be placed on antibiotics and instructed to avoid exertion and loss of balance until you feel better. Earwax buildup can be cleaned out with a simple process at our office. 

Covid and upper respiratory infections often need to run their course, but you might be given medications like Sudafed to help with sinus pressure and pain.

In the case of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and TMJ, sometimes surgical intervention is the best possible solution. You might need to see a specialist for this surgery, but it can sometimes make a big difference in your comfort and the crackling in your ears. These two conditions can sometimes co-occur or be related to one another, so your specialist might be able to address them both in the same surgical procedure.

How Do I Know If I Need to See a Doctor?

If the crackling in your ears has not resolved a few days after you have recovered from a cold or from Covid, or if the crackling is accompanied by symptoms like pain, loss of hearing, and drainage from the ear, you need to go to the doctor or hearing professional. 

. It is always wise to have issues related to the inner ear looked into before they become more severe. Your inner ear impacts your balance, so you do not want to neglect possible serious conditions associated with the ears.

Reach out to us today if you have been experiencing crackling in your ear. We can help assess your condition and provide supportive care as needed for your needs.