Ear Crackle Sounds Like Glass Smashing or Thunder: Is This Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD)?

When swallowing or clearing my ears of air, it sounds as loud as glass shattering or thunder.

I developed tinnitus in October, and between October and December I never heard them crackle. After an acoustic accident in December, the noise was a quiet glass shattering, and my tinnitus increased in pitch - then after an acoustic accident in January the crackling sounds as loud as glass shattering or thunder, and my tinnitus became even higher pitch and louder.

Is this ETD - or is this hyperacusis being worsened through the acoustic accidents increasing the sound of the ear crackling?

I can hear internal noises from my mouth and throat so much louder now (shockingly loud sometimes) and also external sounds such as fridge hum, light switch clicks and higher frequencies sounds are much louder too.

I've also wondered whether these much louder internal sounds (ear crackle, swallowing, chewing, clearing throat etc...) can actually worsen sound reactive tinnitus!?

It sounds a crazy catch-22.

 

Hi DeanD. You should have extended audiogram test covering high frequencies, Eustachian tube test, tympanometry test and review the results with an Audiologist and an Otologist. Make sure they understand tinnitus and the auditory cortex well. It is important also to see if you have a retracted ear drum, color of your ear drum, if there is mucus, etc.

The sooner, the better. Let us know and best regards!

 

Thanks for the reply @Amv.

I have been putting off many tests due to having very severe reactive tinnitus that seems to worsen very easily.

It's, as you say, trying to find the 'right' people who have an understanding of tinnitus, hyperacusis and its interactions - so far these specialists have been very elusive.

I already had bad hearing loss anyway (down to 70 dB at 8 kHz) prior to the onset of tinnitus and all these conditions.

I do though need to get a basic check for retracted ear drum, and any obvious signs from a visual check.

 

Thanks DeanD. How long have you had that 70 dB hearing loss? I have both inner ear damage (tinnitus) and ETD. Basically ETD makes the whole ear not function well, so you can hear your tinnitus more, that is why some days are worse than others. That is why the treatment is based on cleaning the Eustachian tube and keeping it open as much as possible (but due to dysfunction it stays nearly closed all the time).

But your case, due to hearing loss, can be more prone to hyperacusis. I think the best thing you can do is to have some Eustachian tube tests, let an otologist look into your ear drum, have a tympanometry, and also go with a good audiologist. Finding the right doctors is key!

 

I've had poor hearing for a number of years, and mild tinnitus all my life (possibly through a birth defect).

The hyperacusis was brought on by an acoustic shock through microsuction - as well as severe tinnitus.

Each change in the loudness of my Eustachian tubes opening was caused by further noise incidents - I didn't think noise affected the tubes but maybe it does.

Will keep searching for some good consultants! lol

 

After a custom mould earplug fitting 2 days ago, where putty is syringed in to your ear to create a mould, the ear crackling has become worse (it is so loud now) and tinnitus louder and more piercing.

There was hardly any noise involved in the procedure, and so far in the past 4 months I have only worsened to loud noise.

The audiologist - who trained as a vestibular consultant - said it may be SCDS, but I would need a noisy VEMP test for a diagnosis.

It may be hyperacusis but outside sounds aren't terrible to me noise wise, it's just the effect on my tinnitus that keeps me in earplugs and defenders.

They checked my ear drums and said all was looking ok.

My tinnitus is loud, piercing and sound reactive, and I feel if I struggle with worsening from earplug moulding, I am going to struggle with any vestibular testing.

I was refered for Caloric testing with air, but again this is cited as a loud procedure and the NHS advise against it with hyperacusis and bad tinnitus.

It just doesn't seem like I can get any type of diagnosis without subjecting myself to more damaging tests involving sound.

How did they diagnose your ETD?

I have been all over the place, and seen so many private consultants, but finding someone half decent with good knowledge about these symptoms is so hard.

 

I found out about 3 weeks ago that I have fluid in my left middle ear, which is also the side with the ringing. Apparently they have to wait 3 months to see if it clears on its own before diagnosing it as ETD, and I'm hoping I can get some answers at my ENT appointment a couple months from now.

Oddly enough the ringing started last fall right after I started taking a new medication, so naturally I blamed it on the meds. Even though I quit taking the meds, I haven't had an extended period of silence since.

I'm honestly not sure if the meds or the fluid buildup caused the ringing, or perhaps a combination of the two. I was trying to pop my ears to force the fluid out, but it made the ringing worse so I stopped. Some days, like today, I barely notice the ringing, then I have days like yesterday where I can hear it over everything. I noticed crackling this morning in that ear for the first time, so maybe that means the gunk is working its way out?