I have a funny crunching noise in my ear?

Question

After semi loud noises I get a crunching noise in my ear, much the same as someone has stepped on gravel?? it only lasts a split second and is not painful, just irritating!

Answer 1

Hi! I'm an Audiologist

There are a few possible causes of that sound. One is a build-up of wax in your ears -- you may not be completely occluded, but if it is relatively hard and up against the canal wall, it can shift with jaw movements and that can cause a sticky sound.

You say that you hear the sound primarily after hearing loud noises. When we are exposed to loud sounds, there is a tiny muscle that reflexively tightens the eardrum which provides some protection from loud noises. If the wax is near or against your eardrum, you would also hear that noise.

If your Eustachian tube that connects the middle ear space to the back of your throat is inflammed or moist with mucus from a cold or allergies, it can also make a similar sound when yawning, swallowing or with certain jaw movements. This you would not likely hear with loud noises.

Answer 2

should be impacted wax on your ears (kinda gnarly, how did you be conscious of it really is no longer?) sounds like your Eustachian tubes are plugged. seem it up, i imagine I spelled it properly. is often TMJ yet I doubt it. surely Eustachian tubes. Time to verify a well being care service...AND THIS TIME TAKE all of your MEDS!!!!

Answer 3

the sound waves cause pressure changes in your middle ear, and that causes the crunching sound.

Answer 4

Time to clean em, buddy!

Answer 5

it sound like just wax - I get the same when I swallow!

Answer 6

are you sure no one is just chewing chips or pretzels around your ear?