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Clicking noise from soft palate?
Ive been having a problem where my soft palate is making clicking noise whenever i open my mouth and exhale. This also occurs after I'm done saying a sentence. I tried looking in the mirror with my mouth open while exhaling and it seems as though the soft palate is either being slightly "stuck" or having a prolonged muscle contraction and then relaxing which causes it to click . Does this seem like a neurological problem where the muscle contraction of the soft palate is prolonged? Or is it something else? I've tried googling this problem and I have not seen a single website that could identify what this is.. Please help. It's been going on for a few months and is very annoying especially when having a conversation with someone else...
Hi, guys. I am Minchang and am a classical vocal singer and a rehab trainer in Korea, and I had those problems, too.
To resolve this I had tried many things while singing and even talkng and studied movements of my tongue and soft palette, and at some point I came into a method.
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Now I can move the soft palette by myself, so it elevates to close the door to the nasal cavity.
And the other way it depresses down to open the door.
If you focus on feeling it, you can hear the clicking noise at the moment it OPENS the door, and even you can make the noise by yourself if you want after some amount of practice.
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Then you focus on your tongue at the same time, and try to stretch your tongue to each side ‘laterally’ to reach between each side of upper and lower big teeth.
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And now keep your tongue stretched enough and stabilize it there, and try to repeat the soft palette open and closed, and practice it. I call this ‘proximal tongue stabilization’.
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So in my case, I practiced this a lot and can make the noise by myself if I want, and not make it, too even while both talking and singing. This helped me a lot and even improved my voice and gave my voice even strength.
.
Try this and let me know if it improved.
To resolve this I had tried many things while singing and even talkng and studied movements of my tongue and soft palette, and at some point I came into a method.
.
Now I can move the soft palette by myself, so it elevates to close the door to the nasal cavity.
And the other way it depresses down to open the door.
If you focus on feeling it, you can hear the clicking noise at the moment it OPENS the door, and even you can make the noise by yourself if you want after some amount of practice.
.
Then you focus on your tongue at the same time, and try to stretch your tongue to each side ‘laterally’ to reach between each side of upper and lower big teeth.
.
And now keep your tongue stretched enough and stabilize it there, and try to repeat the soft palette open and closed, and practice it. I call this ‘proximal tongue stabilization’.
.
So in my case, I practiced this a lot and can make the noise by myself if I want, and not make it, too even while both talking and singing. This helped me a lot and even improved my voice and gave my voice even strength.
.
Try this and let me know if it improved.
Hello, it's been a while but did you ever find a cure to this as I'm having the exact same things, has been hard for about 8 weeks now and its driving me insane. Thankyou!!
2 Comments
Hi! There are answers here of things to look into. The appropriate evaluation is Investigations like X rays, NCS, EMG and MRI will help to arrive at a diagnosis for appropriate therapy. Potential diagnosis is myasthenia gravis. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myasthenia-gravis/symptoms-causes/syc-20352036 A neurological exam is often what is done to determine if this is the cause. Medications are used to treat. They do not cure but allow the symptoms to subside. Another possibility is palatal myoclonus. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/palatal-myoclonus This has a symptom of a clicking sound that you describe but is a rare situation. Treatment ideas https://ostrowon.usc.edu/2020/05/21/palatal-myoclonus/ There are several things they can try. But first you need to be diagnosed. Talk to your doctor and let us know what they say!
I am suffering from this too. Been trying to find a solution so far to no avail although one of the doctors I went to in my local hospital said it's due to my 'soft palate being too long' and the only way to fix it is to get a surgery to trim the excess soft palate. Didn't make sense to me because I've gone through 33 years without this click and it just appeared suddenly and now a surgery is required to get rid of this click? Anyway, joining in this thread and hoping for a solution!
After about 1,5 years I found a solution to this problem. It works for me and hopefully for others as well. In essence you need to strengthen your soft palate. This can be done by performing anti snoring exercises. I do this by building up pressure in my mouth in a way that I feel it push against my palate. I can do this very easily now but it took some practice. You can start out by blowing air into straw and then blocking the straw at the exit. Blow as long an hard as you can (for me that’s about 20 seconds). By doing this your palate will be trained and become stronger and tighter. I can do this now without the straw so no-one notices I’m doing it.
I’ve been doing this for 4 days now (about 5 times a day) and the clicking is as good as gone.
Hopefully this will be helpful for others as well because I know how it affects your daily life how mentally exhausting it can be.
Just Google ‘strenghten soft palate’ and see which one works for you. This one did the trick for me. Good luck!
I’ve been doing this for 4 days now (about 5 times a day) and the clicking is as good as gone.
Hopefully this will be helpful for others as well because I know how it affects your daily life how mentally exhausting it can be.
Just Google ‘strenghten soft palate’ and see which one works for you. This one did the trick for me. Good luck!
This is how you fix it 100%, i had the same thing for months and it took a toll on my life. Its to do with tight muscles behind your face and around your soft palette.
http://www.observedimpulse.com/2015/05/intraoral-myofacial-release-for.html?m=1
Palatal myoclonus is a regular, rhythmic contraction of one or both sides of the rear of the roof of the mouth, called the soft palate. These contractions may be accompanied by myoclonus in other muscles, including those in the face, tongue, throat, and diaphragm. The contractions are very rapid, occurring as often as 150 times a minute, and may persist during sleep. The condition usually appears in adults and can last indefinitely. Some people with palatal myoclonus regard it as a minor problem, although some occasionally complain of a "clicking" sound in the ear, a noise made as the muscles in the soft palate contract. The disorder can cause discomfort and severe pain in some individuals.
Palatal myoclonus is a regular, rhythmic contraction of one or both sides of the rear of the roof of the mouth, called the soft palate. These contractions may be accompanied by myoclonus in other muscles, including those in the face, tongue, throat, and diaphragm. The contractions are very rapid, occurring as often as 150 times a minute, and may persist during sleep. The condition usually appears in adults and can last indefinitely. Some people with palatal myoclonus regard it as a minor problem, although some occasionally complain of a "clicking" sound in the ear, a noise made as the muscles in the soft palate contract. The disorder can cause discomfort and severe pain in some individuals. Palatal Myoclonus may develop in response to infection, head or spinal cord injury, stroke, brain tumors, kidney or liver failure, lipid storage disease, chemical or drug poisoning, or other disorders. Prolonged oxygen deprivation to the brain, called hypoxia, may result in posthypoxic myoclonus. Myoclonus can occur by itself, but most often it is one of several symptoms associated with a wide variety of nervous system disorders. For example, myoclonic jerking may develop in patients with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Myoclonic jerks commonly occur in persons with epilepsy, a disorder in which the electrical activity in the brain becomes disordered
IT COULD BE PALATAL MYOCLONUS. THAT IS WHAT THEY DECIDED I HAVE AFTER 5 YEARS OF THIS. I HAD TO SEE A NEUROLOGIST BECAUSE THEY CLAIM IT IS CAUSED FROM A BRAIN TUMOR. I DO NOT HAVE A BRAIN TUMOR, HOWEVER THEY DID FIND THAT I HAVE A STAPH INFECTION IN MY NASAL PHARYNX. STILL SUFFERING.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&uact=8&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwjFx6LVh-3MAhWGej4KHQEQAS0QFghEMAY&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ninds.nih.gov%2Fdisorders%2Fmyoclonus%2Fdetail_myoclonus.htm&usg=AFQjCNGRYqGpb5Av7aMYqPqn0GwGvSVzTg&bvm=bv.122676328,bs.2,d.dmo
I have a similar thing (amongst far too many other symptoms to list but including muscle problems perhaps like yours) and I am waiting for an assessment for hypermobility syndrome. Read up on it (here: http://www.dynakids.org/Documents/hypermobility.pdf) For me, it would explain everything. Perhaps things might ring true for you too. Good luck. L x
yeah i feel spaced out and fatigued sometimes. for the last 8 years ive been dealing with this crackling and clicking sound coming from my head it only happens when i move my head or when i press certain areas of my face and head. people around me can sometimes hear it and it freaks them out. when i look in the mirror i can see my soft palate involuntarily raising when i press these areas of my face and head. over all it feels as though i have some sort of pressure build up. I went to a neurologist and he totally dismissed the clicking and told me he believes me to have a chronic post concussion migraine.i dont believe this to be true becuase no one else who i know has a head that makes these sort of noises and my head or life was not always like this Im 30 and have been dealing with this in some formor another since i was 22 i just want my head to be normal again. im thinking it might have something to do with either nerves or sinuses but i have noreal supporting evidence other than the way it feels. doctors dont believe that its sinus related because my face doesnt hurt but i do here clicking behind my nose when i press my face and i do get wierd sensations throught one side of my body (nerves)?
Hallo tqtraq,
i have EXACTLY the same problem as you. i have a strong tense of my soft palate since 15 years! i am 33, female and come from germany. i maybe can help you a little bit. also i 'd like to exchange about this disorder with other people. i think, it is a little help, to know, that you are not alone in this wourld with this problem. i hope you receive my message yet. dear greetings, Mary
p.s and yes, it is definitely a neurological problem. in my case, it began with strong mental stress in the past (family). please write me!
i have EXACTLY the same problem as you. i have a strong tense of my soft palate since 15 years! i am 33, female and come from germany. i maybe can help you a little bit. also i 'd like to exchange about this disorder with other people. i think, it is a little help, to know, that you are not alone in this wourld with this problem. i hope you receive my message yet. dear greetings, Mary
p.s and yes, it is definitely a neurological problem. in my case, it began with strong mental stress in the past (family). please write me!
2 Comments
could i also please get your assistance as i have been experiencing clicking sounds on the roof of my mouth for the past few days and i am unable to sleep !!
I’d love more insight as I’m experiencing the same.
Hi, i too hv quite a similar problem like urz.. whenever i swallow be it food or saliva my soft palate makes crackling, popping and grinding noises,its goin on for 3 mnths ..m tired visiting doctors .. they are jst baffled , plz hlp me.
I really just want to know what is causing this clicking noise on my soft palate. Not even sure if M.gravis is relevant to my problem .. regardless I certainly do not have this...
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello and hope you are doing well.
Have you been tested for Myasthenia gravis? Myasthenia gravis is characterized by weakness and rapid fatigue of any of the muscles under your voluntary control. This mostly affects the small muscles of the face. Here the muscle weakness usually improves with rest. It is diagnosed by the edrophonium (Tensilon) test. Discuss these options with your doctor when you happen to meet him next time.
Hope this helped and do keep us posted.
Have you been tested for Myasthenia gravis? Myasthenia gravis is characterized by weakness and rapid fatigue of any of the muscles under your voluntary control. This mostly affects the small muscles of the face. Here the muscle weakness usually improves with rest. It is diagnosed by the edrophonium (Tensilon) test. Discuss these options with your doctor when you happen to meet him next time.
Hope this helped and do keep us posted.
So even when i push my tongue against my soft palate, it would make this clicking noise..
Hi,
I do not have problems swallowing, but I do have a history of muscle problems. Note that nothing debilitating has happened to me yet where I am unable to do some sort of activity. However, extensive testing has been done ranging from MRIs, EMGs and multiple blood tests, and they turned out negative. I do not want to go into details of it because obviously that would take so long. Do you really think it's a nerve problem that's causing this clicking noise? Also, don't trust me on saying how my palate has a "prolonged contraction" because I do not know how the muscle of of the soft palate works and that I could just be assuming that it's abnormally contracting but in fact it could be normal... However, what seems to be happening is that whenever I relax the soft palate, it makes a clicking noise on both "corners" of the soft palate where it meets the hard palate. Again, if you do think it's a neurological problem still, let me know ..
I do not have problems swallowing, but I do have a history of muscle problems. Note that nothing debilitating has happened to me yet where I am unable to do some sort of activity. However, extensive testing has been done ranging from MRIs, EMGs and multiple blood tests, and they turned out negative. I do not want to go into details of it because obviously that would take so long. Do you really think it's a nerve problem that's causing this clicking noise? Also, don't trust me on saying how my palate has a "prolonged contraction" because I do not know how the muscle of of the soft palate works and that I could just be assuming that it's abnormally contracting but in fact it could be normal... However, what seems to be happening is that whenever I relax the soft palate, it makes a clicking noise on both "corners" of the soft palate where it meets the hard palate. Again, if you do think it's a neurological problem still, let me know ..
2 Comments
Hello I am having the same symptoms as you for a month now. Do you have any updates?
Hello.. I’m having the same exact issue, can you share with me if you have discovered the underlining problem to this clicking and snapping noise? Please.. let me know because I’ve been seeking help for almost 2 years now.. and have been seeing many different specialist to find a solution. And no one has yet know what it is.. unbelievable!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello and hope you are doing well.
Do you have any problems with swallowing? Any lesions affecting the nerves supplying the palate can cause palatal paralysis. This can occur with problems in the brain or cranial nerves. Muscular diseases and Neuromuscular junction diseases (where the end of the nerve meets the muscle) can also cause palatal weakness. So, if your symptoms persist, please consult your primary care physician who will do an initial clinical assessment and then may refer you to a neurologist. Investigations like X rays, NCS, EMG and MRI will help to arrive at a diagnosis for appropriate therapy.
Hope this helped and do keep us posted.
Do you have any problems with swallowing? Any lesions affecting the nerves supplying the palate can cause palatal paralysis. This can occur with problems in the brain or cranial nerves. Muscular diseases and Neuromuscular junction diseases (where the end of the nerve meets the muscle) can also cause palatal weakness. So, if your symptoms persist, please consult your primary care physician who will do an initial clinical assessment and then may refer you to a neurologist. Investigations like X rays, NCS, EMG and MRI will help to arrive at a diagnosis for appropriate therapy.
Hope this helped and do keep us posted.
1 Comments
COULD BE PALATAL MYOCLONUS. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&uact=8&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwjFx6LVh-3MAhWGej4KHQEQAS0QFghEMAY&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ninds.nih.gov%2Fdisorders%2Fmyoclonus%2Fdetail_myoclonus.htm&usg=AFQjCNGRYqGpb5Av7aMYqPqn0GwGvSVzTg&bvm=bv.122676328,bs.2,d.dmo
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