Ear Crackling When Swallowing or Yawning (Phone Can Record It) — Dependent on Head Position

[Snake]

Hi, for at least over a year now I have had a loud crackling sound in my right ear when I swallow or yawn (when the eustachian tube opens). I tried several ENTs but they don't know what is it. Eustachian tubes are clear, tympanometry is good, no pressure problems. Nothing.

I don't have problems with equalizing the pressure, but what I experience is that in certain head positions and certain "methods" of swallowing with avoiding the right ear as much as I can I don't experience this sound. I also try not to open my eustachian tubes when yawning. It's seems like it's also a little pressure dependent because it happens probably when eustachian tube is opening (but not always, only sometimes, it's a strange sound, not piercingly loud), and again heavily head position dependent. It's worse when I'm standing straight and better when my head is in weird positions like my chin on my chest.

ALSO, it happens randomly. I can swallow a couple of times without this sound and then BOOM, or have a click sound couple of times in a row

When I yawn and open the eustachian tubes it seems to appear most of the time, it's for sure linked to the opening of the eustachian tube, however eustachian tube itself is clear.

This is for sure not the normal popping sound when your ears equalize pressure, because it's so loud that my phone can record it! My left ear is fine, I hear only normal ear popping, but my right ear is really bad.

Here's the sample (I amplified the whole track a little so you don't have to turn up the speakers, but as you can hear the phone records it clearly):



You hear this sharp click? That's it and no-one has a clue what is it... It's really annoying and loud as a nuclear bomb. I fear that it will have impact on my hearing and tinnitus in the long term. My right ear is already the worse tinnitus ear (I have tinnitus in the both ears + head).

I don't know where to search next, and for what I should search. Maybe someone here can give me some clue what's going on

I also remember that I had a little incident when I choked some fluorine from my teeth after cleaning them (I fell asleep with my head a little below my chest level and well, fluorine got to my saliva and saliva to the nose) but doctors said that there shouldn't be any connection with that. 2-3 days later I think I started to experience this but maybe it's just a coincidence.

 

[Rb86]

The fact that it's better when leaning forward (chin on chest) suggests eustachian Tube disfunction or etd if I'm correct. Look into that as a possibility. I could be wrong as well.

 

[Shera]

Since my tinnitus got bad both my eustachian tubes have forgotten how to work. Every swallow pretty much makes them pop/pressurize. Drives that seemingly have no elevations changes and so on. Constant popping and pressurizing.

 

[Mishal Almutairi]

Hi dear how are you now? I get a single crackle? About few seconds to a minute after swallowing. Is that similar? That recording sounded like multiple ones. I presume my situation is a sticky eustachian since it stops after the swallow and it's just one pop. Sound like when you pop your ears in a plane or whatever normally swallow.

You may have mem or middle ear myoclonus, luckily they can totally fix that if you have that. I myself have mem but only get a few thumps a day not hundreds.

If it's a thump you'll feel it and hear a dull thud sounds different to a crackle or pop. I hope to help you out

 

[Mishal Almutairi]

@Snake

 

[spedgas]

I experience this too. I'm not sure what to make of it either. I'm told this is normal for everyone. I know what swallowing sounded like for me before I got tinnitus compared to now. It is significantly louder now. It wasn't noticeable before. It's unmistakable that it's louder and more obtrusive. I'd love to get some answers on this.

 

[Willysolman]

Since my tinnitus got bad both my eustachian tubes have forgotten how to work. Every swallow pretty much makes them pop/pressurize. Drives that seemingly have no elevations changes and so on. Constant popping and pressurizing.

I have the same thing in my right ear and less in my left ear. It is so annoying.

 

[Snake]

I experience this too. I'm not sure what to make of it either. I'm told this is normal for everyone. I know what swallowing sounded like for me before I got tinnitus compared to now. It is significantly louder now. It wasn't noticeable before. It's unmistakable that it's louder and more obtrusive. I'd love to get some answers on this.

If it would be normal then phone shouldn't be able to record it, I was also told the same thing BUT hey my left ear is normal! I have it only in my right ear! (and my T is in both ears + head) I know what "normal" sounds like, so if you also experience it then it's not normal

Hi dear how are you now? I get a single crackle? About few seconds to a minute after swallowing. Is that similar? That recording sounded like multiple ones. I presume my situation is a sticky eustachian since it stops after the swallow and it's just one pop. Sound like when you pop your ears in a plane or whatever normally swallow.

You may have mem or middle ear myoclonus, luckily they can totally fix that if you have that. I myself have mem but only get a few thumps a day not hundreds.

If it's a thump you'll feel it and hear a dull thud sounds different to a crackle or pop. I hope to help you out

It happens immediately when my eustachian tubes opens when i swallow or yawn (but as i described it have very strange behaviour), but sometimes I also experience delayed click sound.

Also when i try to like (i don't know how to even describe it) "strain the muscles near head and ears" and create some pressure in the ears then i also hear this or some strange poping / equalization sound only in the right ear. Something is not right and doctors can't find it.

Now i think about it i also experience a little pain? From time to time in the right ear. I dunno maybe this little pain feeling that lasts couple seconds is just normal (no infection, doctors can't see anything, tympanometry was fine, no fluid etc. found in the ear)

 

[Shera]

If it would be normal then phone shouldn't be able to record it, I was also told the same thing BUT hey my left ear is normal! I have it only in my right ear! (and my T is in both ears + head) I know what "normal" sounds like, so if you also experience it then it's not normal



It happens immediately when my eustachian tubes opens when i swallow or yawn (but as i described it have very strange behaviour), but sometimes I also experience delayed click sound.

Also when i try to like (i don't know how to even describe it) "strain the muscles near head and ears" and create some pressure in the ears then i also hear this or some strange poping / equalization sound only in the right ear. Something is not right and doctors can't find it.

Now i think about it i also experience a little pain? From time to time in the right ear. I dunno maybe this little pain feeling that lasts couple seconds is just normal (no infection, doctors can't see anything, tympanometry was fine, no fluid etc. found in the ear)

Mine all started with a jaw injury, but others who have this symptoms say it helps. Try some face massages. Look up some youtube videos on how to do it.

More specifically TMJ massage. I also do a face mask of castor oil, which has amazing benefits if you have acne so side bonus, and that helps break up my scar tissue. I do my massages when I've got the oil on. When this first started for me just breathing did this to my eustachian tubes.

 

[Snake]

I forgot to add this also happens practically always when I eat. It's horrible, how to get rid of it... It's so loud...

 

[Drew2185]

Does it do it when you talk?

 

[Mathieulh]

Hi, for at least over a year now I have had a loud crackling sound in my right ear when I swallow or yawn (when the eustachian tube opens). I tried several ENTs but they don't know what is it. Eustachian tubes are clear, tympanometry is good, no pressure problems. Nothing.

I don't have problems with equalizing the pressure, but what I experience is that in certain head positions and certain "methods" of swallowing with avoiding the right ear as much as I can I don't experience this sound. I also try not to open my eustachian tubes when yawning. It's seems like it's also a little pressure dependent because it happens probably when eustachian tube is opening (but not always, only sometimes, it's a strange sound, not piercingly loud), and again heavily head position dependent. It's worse when I'm standing straight and better when my head is in weird positions like my chin on my chest.

ALSO, it happens randomly. I can swallow a couple of times without this sound and then BOOM, or have a click sound couple of times in a row

When I yawn and open the eustachian tubes it seems to appear most of the time, it's for sure linked to the opening of the eustachian tube, however eustachian tube itself is clear.

This is for sure not the normal popping sound when your ears equalize pressure, because it's so loud that my phone can record it! My left ear is fine, I hear only normal ear popping, but my right ear is really bad.

Here's the sample (I amplified the whole track a little so you don't have to turn up the speakers, but as you can hear the phone records it clearly):



You hear this sharp click? That's it and no-one has a clue what is it... It's really annoying and loud as a nuclear bomb. I fear that it will have impact on my hearing and tinnitus in the long term. My right ear is already the worse tinnitus ear (I have tinnitus in the both ears + head).

I don't know where to search next, and for what I should search. Maybe someone here can give me some clue what's going on

I also remember that I had a little incident when I choked some fluorine from my teeth after cleaning them (I fell asleep with my head a little below my chest level and well, fluorine got to my saliva and saliva to the nose) but doctors said that there shouldn't be any connection with that. 2-3 days later I think I started to experience this but maybe it's just a coincidence.

If your Eustachian tubes are clear, then the only other cause I can think of is Otitis Media, you most likely have fluid or mucus trapped in your middle ear behind the tympan (which may not necessarily be visible using an otoscope).

It may also be caused, albeit unlikely, by TMJ.

 

[Georgina11]

Hi, for at least over a year now I have had a loud crackling sound in my right ear when I swallow or yawn (when the eustachian tube opens). I tried several ENTs but they don't know what is it. Eustachian tubes are clear, tympanometry is good, no pressure problems. Nothing.

I don't have problems with equalizing the pressure, but what I experience is that in certain head positions and certain "methods" of swallowing with avoiding the right ear as much as I can I don't experience this sound. I also try not to open my eustachian tubes when yawning. It's seems like it's also a little pressure dependent because it happens probably when eustachian tube is opening (but not always, only sometimes, it's a strange sound, not piercingly loud), and again heavily head position dependent. It's worse when I'm standing straight and better when my head is in weird positions like my chin on my chest.

ALSO, it happens randomly. I can swallow a couple of times without this sound and then BOOM, or have a click sound couple of times in a row

When I yawn and open the eustachian tubes it seems to appear most of the time, it's for sure linked to the opening of the eustachian tube, however eustachian tube itself is clear.

This is for sure not the normal popping sound when your ears equalize pressure, because it's so loud that my phone can record it! My left ear is fine, I hear only normal ear popping, but my right ear is really bad.

Here's the sample (I amplified the whole track a little so you don't have to turn up the speakers, but as you can hear the phone records it clearly):



You hear this sharp click? That's it and no-one has a clue what is it... It's really annoying and loud as a nuclear bomb. I fear that it will have impact on my hearing and tinnitus in the long term. My right ear is already the worse tinnitus ear (I have tinnitus in the both ears + head).

I don't know where to search next, and for what I should search. Maybe someone here can give me some clue what's going on

I also remember that I had a little incident when I choked some fluorine from my teeth after cleaning them (I fell asleep with my head a little below my chest level and well, fluorine got to my saliva and saliva to the nose) but doctors said that there shouldn't be any connection with that. 2-3 days later I think I started to experience this but maybe it's just a coincidence.

Hey. I'm new to this and I'm experiencing the exact same symptoms. Did you ever get to the bottom of this? Or find a way of treating it? Please let me know I'm in despair!!

 

[Aliyah Ryklief]

Hi Snake,

I came across your message about ear crackling when swallowing/yawning in my desperation to get rid of the same problem. It is driving me crazy! Suffering with this for over a year now. I've been to ear specialist, an ENT, GP. I have tried nasal rinses daily and Avamys spray.

I would like to know if you've had any luck with it?

Any advice please

 

[Mr Eastblom]

@Snake, I have exactly the same thing after an acoustic shock one year ago. Please let me know how you're doing and tips on how you tackle the symptoms.

 

[DeanD]

I'm finding the exact same thing too.

I never had this issue on the onset of my tinnitus, but after a second acoustic shock my ears started to crackle and at the same time my tinnitus tones became more 'tinny'.

Fast forward another month, and another acoustic shock, and now this ear crackle sounds as loud as glass breaking - as well as tinnitus sounding more high pitched and louder.

I am trying to arrange appointments to get it looked at, but I fear it will end up, like everything else, with a lot of white coats scratching their heads.

Seems like too much of a coincidence that most of the time the onset is due to an acoustic shock, rather than being a direct ETD issue.

I wonder if it's a mess up on how the auditory system is capturing the sound now after the acoustic shock - and has created an internal auditory change or perhaps made the auditory system more sensitive, hence hearing it louder - like loudness hyperacusis.