A clicking noise in your ear can be distracting, especially if you can’t figure out where it’s coming from. At first, you might notice it when you swallow or yawn. Or maybe the clicking appears “out of nowhere” when you’re sitting in a completely quiet room. 

Unusual ear sounds every now and then usually aren’t a cause for concern. However, persistent or recurring clicking can be related to pressure changes, earwax, tinnitus, or other issues. If the sound doesn’t go away or you experience other changes in your hearing, a professional evaluation can help determine the root cause and point to possible treatments. 

Why Do I Hear a Clicking Noise in My Ear? 

Your ears have several tiny, delicate structures inside of them, and sounds that seem unusual can have multiple possible causes. 

Some explanations for a clicking sound in the ear include: 

• Pressure changes: The Eustachian tubes help regulate pressure in your middle ear. Opening and closing of these tubes, which happens when you swallow or yawn, can sometimes produce popping or clicking sounds. 

• Earwax buildup: Excess or impacted earwax can affect the way sounds travel through your ear and can sometimes cause unusual sounds. 

• Tinnitus: Tinnitus often sounds like ringing. But some people also experience clicking, buzzing, humming, or other sounds that aren’t coming from an outside source. 

• Muscle movement: Small muscles inside the middle ear sometimes contract or spasm, which can create repetitive clicking sounds. 

• Jaw movement: Issues with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can sometimes cause clicking or popping that sounds/feels like it’s coming from your ear. 

Since there are multiple potential causes, the details of the clicking can offer useful clues. Your audiologist can help you get to the bottom of the unusual sensations in your ears so you can explore treatment options.  

Why Does My Ear Click When I Swallow? 

If you mostly notice the clicking when you swallow, yawn, or chew, the sensation could be related to the Eustachian tube. 

These small passageways connect the middle ears to the back of the throat and help equalize pressure. You may notice them when you’re on an airplane, driving through the mountains, or dealing with congestion. 

Occasional clicking when swallowing isn’t necessarily a problem. But if your ear constantly feels clogged or pressured, or the sensation doesn’t improve, you might want to consider getting it evaluated. 

Can Earwax Cause Clicking in the Ear? 

Earwax usually protects your ears by trapping debris and keeping your ear canal lubricated. But when too much wax accumulates, it can create a blockage. 

Impacted earwax may cause muffled hearing, fullness or pressure in the ear, tinnitus, and other strange sensations. If you have these symptoms along with clicking, a hearing professional can examine your ear canal to see whether wax is part of the problem. 

Try to avoid inserting cotton swabs or other objects into your ear to remove a suspected blockage. Swabs can be good for light sweeps along the outside of your ear, but if you’re pushing, you can impact the wax or injure your ear. Professional earwax management is a safer option if wax removal is necessary. 

Could a Clicking Sound Be Tinnitus? 

Tinnitus is usually described as “ringing in the ears,” but it can actually take many forms. 

Depending on the person, tinnitus can sound like: 

• Ringing 

• Buzzing 

• Hissing 

• Humming 

• Clicking 

• Whooshing 

Tinnitus itself isn’t a disease. It’s actually a symptom associated with hearing loss, noise exposure, earwax buildup, and other conditions. If you’re regularly hearing a clicking noise that no one else can hear, especially if you’re noticing changes in your hearing, a hearing test can be an important next step. 

When Should I Have Clicking in My Ear Checked? 

A click or pop sound every now and then could be part of your ear’s normal pressure-regulating process. But persistent, or worsening clicking sounds deserve more attention. 

Consider scheduling an evaluation if the clicking: 

• Happens frequently or doesn’t go away 

• Is only occurring in one ear 

• Is accompanied by muffled or reduced hearing 

• Occurs with persistent pressure or fullness 

• Is interfering with sleep, concentration, or daily activities 

• Is accompanied by tinnitus or other changes in your hearing 

Seek prompt medical attention if you experience sudden hearing loss, severe dizziness, significant ear pain, drainage or bleeding from your ear, or new symptoms after a head or ear injury. 

How Can a Hearing Evaluation Help? 

Unexpected clicking sensations can be frustrating and concerning. That’s why identifying the source is more useful than simply trying to tune it out. 

A hearing evaluation can assess your hearing health and identify potential problems like hearing loss. A hearing professional can examine the ear for issues like an earwax obstruction and determine whether additional medical evaluation might be appropriate.  

Hearing Doctors of Georgia offers hearing testing, earwax management, tinnitus care, and other hearing services for patients in Fayetteville, Newnan, Locust Grove, and Stockbridge. 

If you have persistent clicking or another unexplained change in your hearing schedule an appointment with a specialist today.