ticking/static in ear HELP - Hearing Disorders Message Board

peters · 06-19-2001, 07:22 AM

Hello, I have never had any hearing problems until this week, when while listening to music I noticed a strange ticking sound/sensation in my right ear. It is definitely proportional to the amount of noise and at a moderate volume becomes more like static. I can reproduce the same thing by holding a telephone with a dial tone up to the ear. If anyone has any thoughts on what might be causing this please let me know.

vernon123 · 06-22-2001, 11:35 AM

Your problem may be the tiny muscle between the hearing bones of the middle ear. Years ago, I noticed a funny, whooshing and crackling sound in my left ear while watching a loud movie. It only happened once in a while in a noisy environment. Six months ago, my left ear was injured and I developed eustachian tube dysfunction. This problem is now more severe sometimes. You probably don't have a eustachian tube problem, but I suggest getting a referral to an ENT or Otologist. General practitioners may see nothing wrong. If it is very bothersome, the muscle can be cut or frozen. I wish you the best of luck in getting this resolved.

Dantalion64 · 07-23-2001, 02:21 PM

I'm wondering if anyone else has any input about this? In just the past 5 days, I've developed this as well -- it's definitely sound-activated, and is triggered by white noise, like running water, or paper tearing, or a plastic bag fluttering in a breeze. It's only in one ear, and has been increasing in occurrence -- at first it sounded like someone typing using the Hunt-n-Peck method, but now it sometimes sounds like a proficient typist.

After reading the ordeals some of you have gone through, I feel a bit ridiculous posting about something so seemingly trivial, but I am concerned this is the early signs of something more serious.

vernon123 · 07-25-2001, 02:28 PM

Hopefully, the problem you described will come and go on a limited basis. Before the massive injury to my left ear, I too experienced a similar sensation while in loud movie theatres or environments. Sometimes it happened whenever I was exposed to noise. Other times, it would not happen for months. I do recommend seeing an ENT about it. He can keep track of your symptoms and decide if it's serious. Probably it is'nt. Good luck and protect your ears as carefully as your eyes! I did'nt and life as I knew it is over.

Cactus · 08-11-2001, 09:33 PM

My cousin had a clicking sound in his ear. It happened off & on for a feww weeks until he finally saw a doctor. He found out that a small piece of hair had gotten into his ear canal and would occasionally "click" against his eardrum. The doctor was able to flush the hair out with some sort of solution. I also heard of a man who had gotten a grain of rice lodged in his ear canal during his wedding. He too heard clicking sounds until he discovered the source of the sound. He had to have the rice grain surically removed.