inner ear crackling - Inner Ear Disorders Message Board

big will · 04-15-2004, 06:29 PM

hello to all, for two years now i have had tinnitus and a clicking in both ears . the tinnitus has lessened and doesn't bother me much, but this clicking sound bothers me. i blow out on my ears a lot trying to shake the clicking. i open my mouth and try to pop my jar to get rid of it. nothing works. the ENT says nothing is wrong. but something is wrong. i had him put is ear next to mine and he could hear the clicking when i would swallow. is this sinus, fluid in my ears, or what? when i dont swallow it doesn't click. certain muscle movements from the upper part of my mouth seem to make it click also . anyone ever heard of this. thanks big will

Emsybobs · 04-16-2004, 02:02 PM

Hi Will...firstly it is middle ear crackling, not inner ear...it is your eustacian tubes and sounds like either eustacian tube dyusfunction, possible sinus probs (does your head feel 'full'?) OR TMJD - a disorder of the jaw which can cause ear symptoms but if you dont have jaw probs then this is unlikely...sounds like a eustacian tube problem...find a new ENT who will listen properly rather than say 'Nothing is wrong'.

xxx

will100 · 04-17-2004, 10:14 AM

Hi Will,

I have exactly the same as what you have described. I have had Viral Labyrinthitis for almost 5 months now, I went to see an ENT after 3 months had passed & he told me all about my laybyrinthitis but kind of conviniently ignored my ears popping (also crackling, squeaking etc..), tinnitus etc.. eventually when I asked him he gave me some Nasonex steroid based nasal spray which I think has helped a little (still the same problem just less frequent).

Apparently in my case this is because the Virus may have left damage to my eustancian tube or something. I'm planning on going back to my ENT soon to see if anything more can be done about the problems with pressure in my ears as I am a keen diver.

hbep · 04-17-2004, 11:27 AM

Hello there,

Sounds like it's probably palatal myoclonus, a rhythmic contraction of one or both sides of the rear of the roof of the mouth. This can cause a clicking sound in the ear in some people. The fact that you refer to 'certain muscle movements in the roof of your mouth' makes this likely.

By the way if you do a search on myoclonus, don't freak out - myoclonus of other parts of the body can be associated with serious disorders, but palatal myoclonus is common. It's the equivalent of those strange jerks and twitches people get occasionally as they're falling off to sleep. As Emsybobs says, palatal myoclonus can often be associated with tmjd, or myofascial pain dysfunction, often caused by bracing your face - i.e when concentrating, or clenching or grinding your teeth.

If it's really bothering you, a short course of muscle relaxants, or valium at a low dose might sort it out.

Hope this helps,

best,

hbep

Laura B · 04-17-2004, 12:16 PM

I have the same crackling noise in my right ear. The first time I noticed it was about 5 months ago. I don't hear it during the day but when I'm relaxing in the evening I'm aware of it. I don't have it daily, and when I have it then only for about for 30 minutes. It's really weird.