sound when moving ear

[guzmano]

About two weeks ago I started hearing a "crumpling paper" sound inside my ear right whenever I move the ear with the ear muscle or when i pull it upwards manually or when I move the lower jaw from side to side.

There is no water in my ear, no infection and no wax build up (I just came back from my family doctor) and my hearing is not impaired and I have no pain. I have not had any cold for the past few months and I have not injured myself in that ear or anything like that. This just started out of the blue.

Why am I hearing this sound as if I have water and why is it not going away after two weeks?
Is this a sign of a lesion in the cochlea or ear drum that my family doctor has not been able to detect?
What are the internal ear conditions, diseases or lesions that could be consistent with these symptoms?

Thank you

[GemsGemi]

Sleekgeeks response and the qtip thing seemed to have worked for me

[clc0438]

Tilt your head sideways so the ear making the noise is facing the ground. Take a q-tip and insert it into the ear as far as you can without touching your ear drum. Slowly and firmly rotate the q-tip in a circular motion while pressing against your ear canal. Be careful not to press too hard or you might slip and hit your ear drum. Keep doing this until the noise is gone.


I've had this noise in my ear for as long as I can remember (only when I move my ear with my fingers). I read about this trick, did it, and now it is completely gone.

[Nate711]

I thinking is just cardalidge rubbing on cardalidge because it can be loud because cardalidge is hard and rubbery

[dhheinf]

Seriously, don't do this. If the noise is caused by wax buildup, pushing a q-tip into your ear canal is very likely to push earwax in and press it up against your eardrum. I developed earwax compaction after using q-tips in the ear canal for several months. I didn't know it though until after I went swimming and water got stuck in my ear canal (the wax swells up when it gets wet, and water can get trapped behind it), leaving me completely deaf in that ear for 2 days. My doctor found compacted wax in both ears and tried to flush it out with water. Worked in the deaf ear, but not the other, and then I couldn't hear in that ear ! I then developed awful infections in both ears (probably from water trapped in the ear canal too long, which creates great breeding grounds for bacteria). Despite getting treatment the same day the infection symptoms showed up, I was out of commission for the first 5 days because the pain of the infection was so intense. All that from big hard clumps of wax that I'd pushed into my ear canal by trying to clean em with q-tips. These things shouldn't be sold over the counter!

[goldilocks928]

So, I've recently begun this- first few months just pressure/fullness in both ears. Then, left ear would either burn or feel like a blade of grass was in it. Also, my throats would get irritated on the same side (L). Two ENTs were no help; TMJ & ETD. I've been taking Sudafed for 2 weeks now along with Allegra. Ears now have minimal pressure but are constantly crackling. My throat is odd feeling and irritated maybe 1 or 2 days a week which I think is from drainage? No other symptoms. Healthy 36 yr old woman who never had any ear issues. What gives? Total of 5 months and counting...

[Samehere23]

I have the same thing, but im scared of doing anything with a qtup or my finger.

[InCrypt]

SOLVED - Yay! Had the same thing as everyone else described. I tried the "little crowbar" trick that
jzarech, suggested to "pop" my ear. However, just popping the ear (Inserting pinky, forming a seal, and leveraging the pinky out so that the vacuum that formed between pinky and eardrum "pops") didn't immediately work. Tilting head to side and THEN popping did work.
I too wear ear-plugs to sleep (Snoring dogs. ;) ) and woke up with it this morning. Been bugging me all day. I thought it was wax buildup, or an ear-hair (Hate those buggers) that was pushed up against my eardrum.

I am no doctor, but I suspect that it is indeed something resting against the eardrum, and when facial muscles, jaw muscles (from chewing), or you just wiggle your ear lobe, this mechanically moves said object against the eardrum and creates said "Crackliing" noise.
I also suspect that the reason this process works is because the vacuum that is formed while levering the finger out of the ear canal pulls on the ear drum, pushing the wax or ear-hair out of the way. Leaning to the side affected allows gravity to assist and/or amplify the effect.

Oh, and If it hurts, stop. See a doctor. Your either doing it too hard, or, there is something else going on. This process was not painful at all.

Anyway, that is my 2 cents from my experience.

[rp0503]

The qtip idea is what worked for me.  I first tried wiggling my finger in my ear, and it helped a little.  But I used the qtip carefully as lukta described and now the noise is gone!  Thanks!

[shera888]

Thank you durazcoton!
this has been happening to me 2 to 3 weeks now...  I just put some castor oil on a Q-tip and gently, very gently moved it around inside the ear and on the third time a piece of hair, about an inch long, was stuck to it and the sound is completely gone! Yeah.. no doctor co-pay needed!!

[DDS2]

I am a practicing dentist and would like to share my experience.  I have found some patients have symptoms as described if they have issues with the TMJ.  Oftentimes these issues can result from bruxism or grinding. It may be worth asking your dentist next time you visit.

[DracoJuniper]

Hi, sorry, couldn't help but notice your TMJ comment. I have a question, if I may. Do you find that many patients being treated for TMJ have symptoms of a low tinnitus or phlegm in the back of the throat? Thanks :)

[johnny0505]

I may have found the answer...I had THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM and searched forever...MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE WAX BUILDUP DEEP IN YOUR EAR!!!!!   Thought I had tinnitus or sensitivity problems like Mozart..my girlfriend looked in my ear and found a huge blockage of wax..I CLEAN MY EARS OFTEN but it was too far back for a Qtip. I rushed to the CVS and purchased some ear wax flush (came with a bulb to flush with warm water afterwards).  Did it once and it got worse...i was deaf overnight (the blockage had moved deeper because my dumb *** turned my head so my girlfriend could look and it slipped deeper). Next morning I tried again and out came this huge clump of wax...I could hear amazingly well and the crumpling paper sound was GONE. Hope it works for you all too!!!!

[Mz_Cianna]

Actually, the one and only time I had a problem with ear wax was from using Q-Tips, it's a FACT they are NOT for cleaning ear wax. It pushes the wax further in, and packs it against the eardrum. I ended up in the ER with deafness, extreme pain and headache... Dr cleaned my ear out with water and a couple tools... the amount of wax that came out was insane. It was almost unbearably painful to have done... but, as soon as they got the wax out, I WAS PERFECTLY FINE. Zero pain... a bit of a residual headache that was cured with a Tylenol. Don't use Q-Tips INSIDE your ear!!

[lymedout]

Everyone here should get tested for Lyme Disease i had this cracking sound 10 years ago now 25 and have tinitus and a list of symtoms. Im telling you get checked now and treat before its to late. i Know the exact tearing sound and i got it after staying in the countryside years ago having flu then memmory problems started it took 10 years of health declining before finding i have Lyme . The same sound my hands make , my neck my feet my elbows everywhere the same tearing/skeletal sound and i know its all related to Lyme. Some may not have it but i bet a lot of you test poss. Also testing for Lyme is very bad so see a Lyme Literate Doctor these are the only ones that know how to deal with this. Dont end up like me where it gets so late and so hard to treat and so expensive

[TEDJONESbones]

i have this often, its just your eardrum sticking to something, If u put your finger in your ear press down and just gently move your skin around and outwards you will work all the crackling out. You should hear a taut elastic band plinging sound as well as a tape peeling sound.  You will know when you have worked it out when finally there is the finishing sound of 2 rubber things stuck together finally coming apart. I smoke and am unhealthy pretty much always have a mild cold its just your ear messing up for a bit but YOU can help your poor body and fix it.

[hduylam]

I also had this annoying sound in my right ear for about 2 weeks. Nothing seemed to help easing the problem until I used a combination of mechanical and some sort of medical treatment. The products that I used are Ear drops (for the symptoms of clogged ears); Debrox earwax removal aid, and last but not least use your index finger and swiveling exaggeratedly on the outside of the eartube. This trio has helped me and I hope it will help you too!

[Thehelperofyourproblems]

I have had this noice for a couple of days and recently i decided to take action about this noise in my ear. So i stuck a bobby pin in my ear slowly and notice how that when i move the bobby pin around my ear it started to make the noise then i slowly took the bobby pin out of my ear slowly and still heard the noise as i pulled it out. My guess was it might be a hair thts somehow deep down at the end of my ear so after i took a tweezer and started trying to pull something out and so after a couple tries i pulled out a stand of hair which was the main problem. After the hair was pulled out the noise stopped. The hair that got inside of your ear maybe the problem.

[Bob99999]

I have a permanent ear tube in my right ear due to eustachan tube dysfunction and this paper crunching /crackling sound began last week whenever I push up on the bottom of my ear or move my jaw in a certain way. I saw my ENT and he removed some wax but didn't have any idea what I was talking about. He said the tube looked fine and sent me home. I tried the finger in the ear with a gentle wiggle and my head tilted toward the problem ear and that seemed to eliminate most of the crackling.

[custmodz]

Try the wiggling technique mentioned above.

I have had this crackling noise for 6 months and after reading some of the suggestions here i realized that if i put water in my ear and let it sit, upon emptying the ear it wont crackle as often or at all unless messed with.
I also noticed that moving my jaw a certain way will trigger it a LITTLE when my ear was wet (40 minutes ago).  
This makes me think its a hair somewhere or something similar, however... I'm not a doctor so my finding will make good "doctors visit chat" if serving any purpose.  Dont put it off as long as i did, You may regret waiting too long because you didnt "feel like going to the doctor" 3 hours of annoyance (or even 5 between visits whatever) is not worth your hearing.

[durazcoton]

Just wanted to chime in, as this happened to me and I was able to get to the bottom of it relatively quickly.

I was hearing the crackling noise in my left ear for about 3 days, figuring it was due to a cold I just got over.

I have very dry skin in my ears and do not produce enough wax, so every week I put sweet oil in and spread it through the very outer part of the canal with a cotton swab. Sure enough, this time when I pulled out the cotton swab from my left ear, a 3cm-long hair came out, and the crinkling noise was gone. I would say the ear-wiggling technique likely works for people due to either temporarily or permanently dislodging whatever foreign object is rubbing against the ear drum, as it also worked for me for a bit.

[abailey1023]

I poured peroxide into my ear for about 2 minutes and let it bubble. Then I dried my ear with a Qtip. The noise was gone the next day and hasn't returned.

[serafinadellarosa]

Just tried the head tilt and finger wiggle and it worked. Amazing! I noticed the cracking and crunching sounds the other day and have been looking for clue. Read your suggestion and now it's gone.

[Megalev]

Haha, astonishingly insightful comment :)

[ohaira]

well i will have to say, it worked for me as well. had the crinkling sound for awhile went away but had recently came back. did sleekgeeks suggestion..to my surprise..gone!! for how long, that will be the test :)
Thanks again.

[AS308]

I'm 17 and I have the same crackling sound in the right ear. My hearing is also what I can best describe as foggy, and it's giving me headaches. Sometimes I get dizzy too. I don't have any hobbies or jobs that require pressure change. The only activity I do that I can imagine having a negative impact on my ear is listening to loud live music. I clean my ears daily so I know it's not wax build up. I am going to see my doctor ASAP but she is on vacation at the moment.

[Paperears]

Hey sxst,

Chiro sounds like it might relieve some of these symptoms? Do you clench your jaw at night? or find any stiffness? and in your neck?  If I pull my left ear down to my shoulder to stretch my neck, it feels as though my right ear drum is being stretched out creating a sound like rubbing a microphone. This makes me think it is mechanical. I'm getting this paper sound from the smallest movement of my ear drum (sound induced or by moving my jaw). I've been looking into white noise treatment as well. I'm assuming you've had your ears checked for sound tolerance? I'm wondering if you've made any more progress?

Thanks

[EardrumHelpNeeded]

I can relate to everyone here.  I have a similar issue.  I have this issue in my left ear - I think as the result of swimmer's ear as a kid.  (I'm 30 now.)  Loud music will cause a static sound in my left ear.  My problem now, however, is a recent traumatic perforation (4 mm) of my right eardrum.  It happened in Sept. 2014 and took two months to fill in, but now I'm plagued with a broken speaker sound when I swallow.  Clicking in the morning when I wake up, followed by popping in that ear every time I swallow.  The crackling (and broken speaker sounds) bothers me the worst, though.  Seen 4 ENTs.  The third claims the epithelial tissue that healed over needs time to regain tensile strength.  The fourth (seen yesterday) thinks it's inflammation of my inner ear nerves that's heightening those middle ear sounds and gave me prednisone (an oral steroid).  Does anyone have any experience like this?  I feel like I'm totally alone here.  Causing me a lot of anxiety/stress every day because I have to hear it every time I swallow and my eustachian tube opens up.  (Noise only in the damaged right ear.)  Please ... if you know anything that can help ... please respond.  It would mean the world to me.

Chris

[sherd777]

Chris, your not alone. Whatever is causing all these problems, with everyone i don't know, but i know what is causing mine. Paper plastic sounds, from bed bug nymphs. Stayed at motel that was infested and never knew the bites on back were from bb. Badbedbugs.com info helped me understand some, but this sound got me looking fore answers.They are leaving a white silicon like substance in my ears and nose. Peroxide helps some but not all. It took 3 months before i pulled the first nymph bb out of my nose. Nightmare had begun. No help from ENT Dr. as expected. Seen comment on here, telling someone to ask there Dr. to make a prescription nasal spray with Ivermectin, that is the first sign of hope, i have seen. My dogs are also going thru this as well. These bugs are very good at hiding and are no longer ectoparasites. Maybe after we bug bombed, is when they stated to live on there host, or thats how they left the motel with us. After putting alchol in my ear after feeling a fullness or pressure, then there severe pressure pain, felt like it went thru my eardrum.  I will keep fighting this and always Faith Over Fear!!

[Version3]

It's always important to post results after you read this stuff... I think as mentioned most do not.

For those who don't like long posts... the tip is: Flush your ear correctly. It will do exactly what the "finger wiggle" trick is doing for some, but it will be permanent, have less risk and is better for your ear anyway.

What happened.

I had this exact problem without any new variations. The sound, happened when I moved my ear and/or jaw I hear the sound. No pain or signs of infection or fluid build up.  

Things I tried:  

I tried the Mucinex and other decongestants for a week or so. No results.
I tried carefully cleaning with cotton swabs (repeatedly). No results.
I tried the finger in your ear wiggly thing. Temporary, but not lasting results. Basically I could change the sensitivity (how easily/often I would hear it) and even in the "intensity" or "loudness" of the sound, but it wasn't going away. This was the best tip up until I did what I'd recommend most do.

A real ear flush. This worked permanently, and I use that word for a reason.

After knowing the problem, I've Googled this symptom with a few extra keywords, and for most people here it is likely the exact thing already mentioned here: a hair or foreign object is resting close to, or even touching your ear drum. The sound is this item moving. The sound everyone describes is not so much like "paper crumbling" but more like what happens if you rub across a microphone... this is closer to what is actually happening to you.

For some this can be a stray hair. It can be a hair from inside your ear that has grown in the wrong direction, it can be either of these combined with some ear wax that has trapped it in it's current position and all of that. It could just as easily be some small foreign object with the same issues.

So... I bought a generic flush kit from my local grocery store. It's basically a small dropper bottle full of olive oil (only ingredient listed on the bottle) that you put a few drops in, for a few minutes to dislodge and lubricate the entire canal. After a few minutes of that, you use the only other thing in the kit... a flush bottle. This is the ideal tool for this problem. It's a little bottle that you squeeze, but it has a special tip on it that squirts water in multiple directions.. none of which is directly at you ear drum. This is important. Anyway, I flushed with warm water a few times and let it drain.

Beside the fact that the sound completely stopped at this point, I used a cotton swab to clean/dry the canal a little... and other than only minor color (olive oil most likely) only one thing came out. A super tiny 1cm or so pice of hair. And then I remembered my hair cut about 2 weeks ago when this started.



It's worth noting... I am NOT a doctor.