Squeaking in your ears can be distracting, and if it doesn’t subside quickly or is a recurring irritation, you’ll undoubtedly want to get to the bottom of it.
While we’d need to perform a quick check to be certain of the causes, squeaking noises inside your ear could be caused by simple issues like a build-up of earwax, problems with blockages in your eustachian tube, or the programming and settings of any hearing aids you might use.
Many clients immediately assume that an inner ear noise nobody else can hear is tinnitus and incurable, but both may be incorrect. There are countless contributing factors that may be responsible for inner-ear squeaking, and our groundbreaking tinnitus therapy is proven to have incredible outcomes.
Understanding Reasons for Squeaking In Your Ear
- There are all sorts of reasons you could hear a squeaking noise in your ear, and step one is to have a chat about when this sound happens. If it occurs when you chew, at certain times of the day, or in environments related to specific hearing aid settings, these could all be clues as to the underlying cause and how to cure it.
- Blockages and impacted earwax, issues with sinus congestion affecting the function of the eustachian tube, problems with muscle spasms and tinnitus, and feedback and squeaking caused by hearing devices are all possibilities.
- We’d advise you to pick a convenient day and time to visit your nearest Regain Hearing clinic for a more accurate answer. We’ll conduct a thorough, efficient analysis of your hearing and ears to ensure you know what the best action plan will be.
Earwax Blockages and Inner Ear Squeaking Sounds
We often reiterate that earwax, normally a harmless and normal part of how our ears function, is also responsible for multiple issues and hearing complications.
If, for example, you have excess earwax, it could generate squeaking or cracking noises when you move your jaw—which is why this could happen when you talk or chew.
- Impacted earwax that creates a blockage can have a similar impact, impeding the way air flows through the ear canal and interfering with sound transmissions or creating irritation around the delicate skin that lines this part of your ear.
- Blockages can stop the eardrum from vibrating normally and interfere with the auditory ossicles or tiny bones inside your ear that help you hear.
- A wax build-up might also cause tinnitus, a symptom of an infection or skin irritation in the ear canal—which will usually disappear when the infection or damage is properly treated.
We’ll clarify further how tinnitus and squeaking might be related, but it is important to explain that tinnitus is a symptom of a hearing dysfunction, not a standalone condition.
Therefore, you may have tinnitus in the form of squeaking noises, which we can remedy by removing earwax blockages using a gentle, pain-free microsuction technique to eliminate all extra wax from your ears.
The Link Between Squeaking Sounds and Eustachian Tube Dysfunctions
Your eustachian tube connects your middle ear with the throat and back of your nose and works to equalise the pressure in your ears with the air outside. If that tube can’t open or close correctly, you could hear all kinds of noises like cracking or popping, particularly when swallowing or yawning.
As a snapshot into how this creates squeaking noises:
- Fluid build-ups or the inability to adapt to air pressure changes mean the eustachian tube can’t work normally, which could mean fluid or excess pressure is straining your middle ear.
- Blockages within the tubes, caused by cold or flu symptoms and allergies, also mean a fluid build-up is likely, which can lead to ear infections.
- Fluid movements within these tubes, as well as pressure changes, can generate squeaking, popping, or cracking sounds.
Eustachian tube issues are often associated with pain and pressure in the ears, a sensation of muffled hearing, and feeling like your ears are clogged or full. If you’re experiencing any of these alongside squeaking, this may be the answer.
Why Temporomandibular Joint Disorders Can Create Squeaking Sounds
This may sound complex and scary, but TMJ disorders refer to any problems that impact your jaw, muscles, or surrounding tissues and cause squeaking or cracking noises in your ears when you move your jaw.
There are numerous causes that fall under this umbrella, including:
- Bruxism, or teeth grinding, which can cause extra strain on your jaw and muscles, and can potentially contribute to squeaking sounds.
- Arthritis affects the jaw, causing inflammation and breakdowns of the cartilage, which sounds like grinding or squeaking during movement.
- Issues with muscle tension due to stress, clenching your jaw or anxiety can be categorised as TMJ disorders and lead to squeaking or cracking sounds in your ears.
This is a less common explanation for squeaking sounds, but if your ears are otherwise healthy and clean and you have no problems whatsoever with your hearing, there is a slight possibility that one of these is a factor.
Squeaking Inner Ears Noises Generated by Hearing Aids
We mentioned hearing aids earlier, and it’s unfortunately common for wearers to hear squeaking, whistling, and feedback. These happen when sounds are picked up by the microphone and over-amplified on a loop.
In most cases, this is due to incorrect programming or settings or a build-up of earwax, both of which are quick and easy to resolve.
Could Tinnitus Cause the Squeaking Noise in My Ear?
Tinnitus, as we’ve clarified, is a broad-scope term for any inner ear noise and can certainly be the culprit for squeaking noises alongside a huge range of temporary and persistent intrusive sounds or low-level humming sounds or buzzing sounds nobody else can hear.
The underlying reason could be any of those we’ve already covered, along with damage to the inner ear from exposure to loud noises, side effects of medications, or other issues within your auditory system.
In every scenario, we’d advise you to schedule a hearing assessment with Regain Hearing at your earliest opportunity. During this assessment, we’ll be able to rule out the vast majority of possible factors and narrow down the reasons for the squeaking to find a resolution for you.
If in doubt, it’s well worth consulting an audiology professional since most causes of squeaking are simple to rectify and can avoid further complications, such as ear infections.
