Acoustic stimuli are constantly perceived by the hearing organ. Even if a person is not awake, but asleep, he still hears the surrounding sounds - therefore, a low noise level is extremely important for a good rest. However, sounds are not always generated by a source from the outside - in some cases, they can occur in the patient's own ear and remain even in absolute silence. It is known that ear noise is a symptom of inflammatory diseases of the ear structures - otitis media, but what diagnosis to think about if there is no pain syndrome? If something rustles in the ear, although pain is not noted, you should find out why this is happening.
Rustle as the norm
Why is it rustling in my ear? The circumstances in which this symptom occurs may vary. Some of the patients associate its appearance with overheating, some think that it began to rustle after an episode of increased blood pressure. Many people report rustling in a state of stress, after a sleepless night, or significant physical exertion. Whatever the reasons, the main question remains - is the rustling sound associated with a dangerous pathology? The absence of pain when rustling in itself excludes many possible diseases. Pain syndrome is an integral component of the clinical picture of acute inflammatory processes.
If instead of pain there is only a feeling of discomfort from rustling, this makes us look differently at a possible list of causes.
Who can complain about rustling? Children, adults and the elderly alike - it can disturb at any age. This is a nonspecific symptom. Some patients do not notice or ignore it for a long time. Sometimes the rustling in the ear is perceived as a variant of the norm - it really can be so. How to distinguish what is essentially normal sound from a pathological symptom? It is worth focusing on the following criteria:
- The frequency of occurrence. If something rustles in your ear not constantly, but from time to time, this should not always cause concern. The patient should ask himself questions: is the appearance of sound associated with physical activity, coughing, swallowing saliva? In the latter case, rustling can appear and disappear on its own - this does not mean illness. If there is no direct relationship between rustling episodes and changes in the state of the body, and the noise is stopped without special measures, it is unlikely to indicate pathological disorders.
- Appears at a reminder. Analyzing a patient's symptoms sometimes becomes difficult. There is a phenomenon of "reminder" when a person, having heard about the likelihood of a pathological symptom, begins to look for it in himself. If the surrounding people discussed rustling sounds in the ear, the patient may suddenly notice a rustling in himself. The sound appeared and passed on its own all the time, but before that it had not received much attention. In the future, only the lack of focus on the symptom leads to its disappearance.
- No change in general condition. Pain is an important, but not the only symptom of pathology. In some serious diseases, there is no pain syndrome, although the patient still needs complex treatment. However, if it rustles in the ear, but does not hurt, and at the same time the person notes a satisfactory general condition, and the noise soon disappears without a trace, you should not worry. How to determine if the organism is really in order? Of course, a variety of diagnostic tests can be done at your doctor's appointment. But the first step is still to interview the patient. Are there headaches? Sleep and appetite disturbed? Are there any attacks of weakness, dizziness? Clarifying questions, even asking oneself, help at least partially clarify the picture.
A healthy person can rustle in the ear while yawning.
Rustling with pathology
Before we start talking about the etiology of the rustling noise, we should immediately mention that the concept of "pathology" includes not only organic, but also functional changes. Any disorders and conditions that can adversely affect the functioning of the body are pathological. Therefore, as the reasons for the rustling in the ear, you should consider:
- dysfunction of the auditory tube;
- liquid getting into the ear;
- the presence of an accumulation of sulfur in the external auditory canal;
- the presence of a foreign body in the external auditory canal.
A well-known disease accompanied by dysfunction of the auditory tube is eustachitis. The name comes from the name of the anatomical structure mentioned - the Eustachian tubes are needed to connect the middle ear to the pharynx. With their help, the necessary difference in pressure indicators between the external environment and the tympanic cavity is achieved. How does this happen? During the consumption of food (chewing, swallowing), as well as during a conversation, contraction of special muscles occurs, which causes the opening and closing of the pharyngeal opening of the auditory tube, which allows air to pass through. The pressure is equalized by fluctuations in the external pressure. With the development of the inflammatory process (both acute and chronic), a sharp change in pressure, various symptoms arise - including noise, which can be described by the patient as rustling, creaking.
Liquid gets into the ear also when bathing. If the integrity of the tympanic membrane is preserved and the fluid belongs to non-aggressive (fresh or sea water), the danger is the likelihood of infection. Rustling may appear after using ear drops, but if the drug is used as prescribed, it does not persist for a long time. Often it begins to rustle in the ear after washing the ear canal with hydrogen peroxide. The accumulation of sulfur in the external auditory canal is a pathology that, with the right approach, can be eliminated quickly enough without consequences.
Rustling is rarely detected, often after trying to remove the plug on your own. The use of cotton swabs deep in the external auditory canal can lead to the appearance of this sound, which is dangerous and, most importantly, useless manipulation.
With the correct functioning of the ceruminous glands, satisfactory viscosity of the sulfuric secretion and the absence of inflammation, sulfur residues are removed on their own during jaw movements (eating, talking), this does not require external intervention.
Foreign body
Foreign bodies can be different. The situation in which an object is in the external auditory canal is extremely dangerous, if it is a hairpin, a needle. When a foreign body has sharp edges, jags, or is stained in something, there is a risk of infection. Such objects usually do not cause rustling, their entry into the ear causes rather intense pain.
What can provoke a rustling noise? As a rule, these are small objects:
- Grains.
Fruit seeds.- Beads.
- Pieces of cotton wool.
- Fragments of a pencil lead, etc.
Fruit seeds.Hair, cotton wool and other seemingly voluminous, but not solid objects can be pushed deep into the ear when trying to extract, and their presence is manifested by periodic rustling, especially clearly noticeable during swallowing. If the foreign body remains stationary, it does not emit sounds or provoke ear noise.
"Noise background" can appear only when liquid enters the ear, if the object swells from moisture and blocks the ear canal. Rustling with a living foreign body is combined with pain syndrome.
Insects can crawl into a person's ear. They try to move around by scratching the walls of the ear canal and causing intense pain.The more actively the insect moves, the more pronounced the painful sensations in the patient. Therefore, if the ear rustles without pain with suspicion of a foreign body, it is necessary to examine the ear canal in the doctor's office. He will remove a dead insect or other foreign body, give recommendations regarding the rustling noise, if this sign persists after the manipulation.
