Middle ear infections. Children are typically more likely to have middle ear infections than adults. A middle ear infection is also called “acute otitis media.” It happens when your eustachian tubes are blocked and can’t drain fluid. That fluid can build up and become infected. This leads to crackling sounds in the ear. Other, more obvious symptoms include:
What Could Be Causing the Crackling in Your Ear?
You may hear cracking or popping in your ear if you have a middle ear infection, an issue with a tube in your ear, or another condition affecting the jaw or ear. Treatment can depend on the specific cause and symptoms.
We’ve all experienced unusual sensations or sounds in our ears from time to time. Some examples include muffled hearing, buzzing, hissing, or even ringing.
Another unusual sound is a crackling or popping in the ear. Crackling in the ear is often compared to the noise that a bowl of Rice Krispies makes after you’ve just poured milk over them.
Several different conditions can cause crackling in the ear. We explore these causes, how they’re treated, and when to call your doctor.
Several conditions may lead to a crackling sound in the ears.
Eustachian tube dysfunction
Your eustachian tube is a small, narrow tube that connects the middle part of your ear to the back of your nose and upper throat. You have one in each ear.
Eustachian tubes have several functions, including:
- keeping the pressure in your middle ear equalized with the pressure in your surrounding environment
- draining fluid from your middle ear
- preventing infection in the middle ear
Typically, your eustachian tubes are closed. They open when you do things like yawn, chew, or swallow. You may have also felt them opening when you pop your ears while on a plane.
Eustachian tube dysfunction happens when your eustachian tubes don’t open or close properly. This can lead to a crackling or popping sound in your ear.
Other symptoms of this condition may include:
- a feeling of fullness or congestion in your ear
- ear pain
- muffled hearing or hearing loss
- dizziness or vertigo
There are several possible causes of eustachian tube dysfunction. They can include:
- an infection such as the common cold or sinusitis
- allergies
- enlarged tonsils or adenoids
- irritants in the air, such as cigarette smoke or pollution
- cleft palate
- nasal polyps
- nasal tumors
Each of these potential causes can prevent the eustachian tubes from functioning properly by causing inflammation or physical blockage of the tube.
Acute otitis media
Acute otitis media is an infection in your middle ear. It’s more common in children than in adults.
Eustachian tube dysfunction can contribute to the development of acute otitis media. When the tubes are narrowed or blocked, fluid can accumulate in the middle ear and become infected.
People with acute otitis media may experience ear crackling due to narrowed or blocked eustachian tubes. Other common symptoms in adults include:
- ear pain
- fluid draining from the ear
- difficulty hearing
Children may experience additional symptoms like:
- fever
- headache
- irritability or crying more than usual
- trouble sleeping
- low appetite
Earwax buildup
Earwax helps to lubricate and protect your ear canal from infection. It’s made up of secretions from glands in your outer ear canal, which is the part closest to the opening of your ear.
Earwax typically moves out of your ear naturally. However, it can sometimes get stuck in your ear canal and cause a blockage. This can happen if you push the earwax deeper into your ear by probing with an object such as a cotton swab.
Sometimes, your ears may make more earwax than needed, and this can also cause a buildup.
Some symptoms of earwax buildup can include popping or crackling sounds in your ear as well as:
- ears that feel plugged or full
- ear discomfort or pain
- itching
- partial hearing loss
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) attaches your jawbone to your skull. You have one on each side of your head, located just in front of your ears.
The joint works as a hinge, and can also perform sliding motions. A disc of cartilage located between the two bones helps to keep the movement of this joint smooth.
Injury or damage to the joint or erosion of cartilage can lead to TMJ disorders.
If you have a TMJ disorder, you may hear or feel clicking or popping very close to your ear, particularly when you open your mouth or chew.
Other possible symptoms of a TMJ disorder include:
- pain, which can occur in the jaw, ear, or at the TMJ
- stiffness in the muscles of the jaw
- having a limited range of jaw movement
- locking of the jaw
Middle ear myoclonus (MEM)
Middle ear myoclonus (MEM) is a rare type of tinnitus. It happens due to the spasm of specific muscles in your ear — the stapedius or tensor tympani.
These muscles help to transmit vibrations from the eardrum and bones in the middle ear into the inner ear.
What exactly causes MEM is unknown. It may be linked to a congenital condition, acoustic injury, and other types of tremors or spasms such as hemifacial spasms.
Spasm of the stapedius muscle can cause a crackling or buzzing sound. When the tensor tympani muscle spasms, you may hear a clicking sound.
The intensity or pitch of these noises can vary from one person to the next. Other characteristics of these sounds can also vary. For example, they may:
- be rhythmic or irregular
- occur continuously, or come and go
- happen in one or both ears
Make sure to see your doctor for crackling in your ear if you’re experiencing any of the following:
- crackling that’s interfering with your day-to-day activities or making it hard for you to hear
- symptoms that are severe, persistent, or keep coming back
- signs of an ear infection that last longer than 1 day
- ear discharge that contains blood or pus
In order to diagnose your condition, your doctor will take your medical history and perform a physical examination. This will likely include examining your ears, throat, and jaw.
In some cases, more specialized tests may be needed. The types of tests your doctor may order include:
- testing the movement of your eardrum
- a hearing exam
- imaging tests like CT or MRIs.
The treatment of crackling in your ear depends on what’s causing it. Some examples of treatments your doctor may prescribe include:
- Antibiotics to treat an ear infection.
- Earwax removal by a specialist if earwax is causing a blockage.
- Placement of ear tubes in your eardrums to help equalize pressure in your middle ear and to help with the drainage of fluid.
- Balloon dilation of the eustachian tube, which uses a small balloon catheter to help open the eustachian tubes.
- Prescription medications like tricyclic antidepressants or muscle relaxants for relief of pain associated with TMJ disorders.
- Surgery for TMJ when more conservative methods aren’t working to relieve symptoms.
If the crackling in your ear isn’t severe and isn’t accompanied by other symptoms, you may want to try some home remedies.
If the crackling doesn’t get better, or gets worse, it’s a good idea to follow up with your doctor.
Home treatments
- Pop your ears. Sometimes by simply swallowing, yawning, or chewing, you can unclog your ears and help equalize the pressure in your middle ear.
- Nasal irrigation. Also known as a sinus flush, this saltwater rinse can help get rid of excess mucus from your nose and sinuses that may be contributing to eustachian tube dysfunction.
- Earwax removal. You can soften and remove earwax by using mineral oil, hydrogen peroxide, or over-the-counter ear drops.
- Over-the-counter (OTC) products. You can try medications like NSAIDs for reducing inflammation and pain, or decongestants or antihistamines to reduce congestion.
- TMJ exercises. You may be able to ease the pain and discomfort of TMJ disorders by doing specific exercises, as well as massaging the area or applying an ice pack.
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The following tips may help prevent conditions that can cause crackling in your ears:
- Try to prevent respiratory infections. Illnesses like the common cold and flu can often lead to eustachian tube dysfunction. To avoid getting sick, wash your hands frequently, avoid sharing personal items with others, and stay away from those who may be sick.
- Don’t use cotton swabs to clean your ears. This can push earwax deeper into your ear canal.
- Try to avoid environmental irritants. Allergens, secondhand tobacco smoke, and pollution may contribute to eustachian tube dysfunction.
- Stay away from loud noises. Being exposed to loud noises can cause damage to your ears and contribute to conditions like tinnitus. If you’re going to be in a loud environment, use hearing protection.
Sometimes you may experience crackling or popping in your ears. This is often described as a “Rice Krispie”-like sound.
Crackling in the ears can be caused by several different conditions, such as eustachian tube dysfunction, acute otitis media, or the buildup of earwax.
If the crackling in your ears isn’t too severe, you can try various home remedies to help get rid of the noise. However, if self-care measures don’t work, or you have severe or prolonged symptoms, make an appointment to see your doctor.
Last medically reviewed on November 1, 2019
What to Know About Crackling in Your Ear
Crackling in your ear is an annoying sound that may remind you of a fresh bowl of a certain puffed rice cereal. It can be a symptom of normal seasonal allergies. It may also be a sign of something more serious.
Several conditions can cause crackling in your ears. Here’s what you need to know about how it can affect your health.
Causes of Crackling in Ears
Your ears are complicated. They have many small muscles, bones, and nerves that work together to translate soundwaves into something that your brain understands.
Because of that, there are multiple reasons you might be hearing crackling in your ears. Here are the most common reasons you might notice crackling noises.
Earwax. The simplest reason for crackling noises in your ears is earwax. Too much earwax buildup in your ear canal may make “crackling” noises as you move your jaw. This may happen naturally. It can also be caused by using cotton swabs to clean your ear.
Clogged eustachian tubes. You have tiny eustachian tubes that connect your ears and your sinuses. They help keep the fluid and pressure in your inner and middle ear at the right level.
Your eustachian tubes may not be able to open or close properly when you have allergies, a cold, sinus infections, or polyps or tumors in your nose. This causes ear popping or crackling sounds.
Middle ear infections. Children are typically more likely to have middle ear infections than adults. A middle ear infection is also called “acute otitis media.” It happens when your eustachian tubes are blocked and can’t drain fluid. That fluid can build up and become infected. This leads to crackling sounds in the ear. Other, more obvious symptoms include:
- Ear pain and pressure
- Headaches
- Trouble hearing from an ear
- Fluid draining from an ear
- Fever
Middle ear myoclonus. Also called MEM, middle ear myoclonus is a type of tinnitus. MEM is different from most types of tinnitus. It’s caused by a spasm in the tiny muscles in your ear.
Either your stapedius or your tensor tympani muscle will shake. This causes your eardrum to vibrate. You hear a crackling, buzzing, or clicking noise as a result.
Temporomandibular joint problems. Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the connection between your jaw and the rest of your head. It’s next to your ears. A problem with your TMJ can cause you to hear strange noises.
You may have a TMJ disorder if you have crackling in your ears along with stiffness or pain in your jaw. There could be nothing wrong with your ears.
Treating Ear Crackling
How you treat your crackling ears depends on what’s causing the problem. Your doctor can help you identify why your ears are crackling and offer an effective treatment method.
Many cases of crackling ears will resolve on their own with time. You probably have clogged eustachian tubes if the sound shows up during a cold or with allergies. Using an over-the-counter decongestant can help unclog your ears while you wait for your body to recover.
Your ears could be crackling because of too much earwax. You can use earwax softening kits or have a healthcare professional clean your ear canals for you. Never try to put anything in your ear canals. You may damage your eardrum.
Ear infections may require more serious treatment. These infections can lead to permanent hearing loss if they aren’t treated. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms if you have ear pain or a fever. They will examine your ears. They may prescribe you an antibiotic if it looks like you have a bacterial infection.
If you have TMJ issues, your doctor will focus on treating your joint. They may prescribe muscle relaxants to relieve joint pain and stiffness. They may recommend physical therapy or TMJ surgery if that doesn’t work.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
Crackling in your ears is not usually dangerous unless you also have ear pain or a fever. You only need to ask your doctor for their advice if the noise bothers you or lasts a long time.
You should reach out for medical advice if you experience pain, pressure, headaches, or fever in combination with the crackling sound. These can all be signs of more serious problems like ear infections. Untreated ear infections can lead to permanent hearing loss. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Show Sources
Clinical Otolaryngology: “Eustachian tube dysfunction: consensus statement on definition, types, clinical presentation and diagnosis.”
ENThealth: “Earwax (Cerumen Impaction).”
frontiers in Neuroscience: “Impact of Temporomandibular Joint Complaints on Tinnitus-Related Distress.”
MAYO CLINIC: “Ear infection (middle ear),” “TMJ disorders.”
Tremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements: “Middle Ear Myoclonus: Two Informative Cases and a Systematic Discussion of Myogenic Tinnitus.”
University of Rochester Medical Center: “Anatomy and Physiology of the Ear.”
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