Crackling in left ear

[daneh211]

I have had a crackling sound in my ear that sounds similar to a bad quality headphone that is playing music too loud for the last two years.

This only happens when I hear loud noise or if I speak to loud. Also music can cause this even on moderate volume. The noise can be temporally stopped if I move my jaw around or swallow. The crackling sound is only there the moment their is a loud noise, not there all of the time.

I clean my ears out with otex/oil often and this seems to lessen the frequency.

I can hear this sound when I am on the phone and someone speaks loudly, perhaps it is a specific frequency that causes it. Also on the phone I can get a feeling in my ear of something moving in and out inside the ear when people speak loudly. Hard to describe this.

I have no idea what this is but it makes listening to music less enjoyable.

Any ideas?

[tschock]

You're welcome...and sorry for all the typos above. lol

[daneh211]

Interesting, I am definitely going to get a doctors appointment soon.

Thanks for the reply.

No I don't get nausea :)

[tschock]

It could be tinnitus. Most people assume that tinnitus is only a ringing or buzzing sound...it isn't.

I find that loud noises set mine into motion all the time.
It could also be that your jaw is sitting properly.
A loud noise could cause you to "jar" your jaw in the wrong position temporarily.
You could try seeing a chiropractor to see if it is fact your jaw that is causing it.

The oil that you use can also cause fluid build up...this will make the fluid "bounce around" inside the canal, causing odd sounds and sensations.

I have been told by many that you should never stick anything bigger than your elbow inside your ear...and that is solid advice. lol

I'm thinking that you could also have some ear damage...you may want to see an ENT about this problem.
Menierre's Disease, ( which isn't really a disease but more of a syndrome) comes to mind as well...but only because I suffer from it. When I move my jaw and/or swallow the sensations go away for a short time...this is caused by the "fluid" or "crystals" floating around inside the ear. When the "fluid" shifts position, the symptoms cease for a bit.

Do you ever get vertigo when this happens? Nausea?