What does fluttering in ear mean

In addition, Sponsors provide thought-leadership and expertise. The Sponsor does not control, review or moderate any other areas in HealthShare. Change email Send verification. We have sent you a verification email. Please check your inbox and spam folder. Related Topics. I have been experiencing ear fluttering in the left ear for years now! GP says sinus or wax by I doubt that if its been years and only the one ear. It happens when I lay on my right side but if I lay on the ear it stops.

Is it an anxiety symptom or something more? Find a professional to answer your question. Find a professional to answer your question Search Now. I have worked in public hospitals as well as private practice over the past 25 years. As a clinical psychologist I treat depression, social anxiety, … View Profile. Blood pressure: A very common cause of fluttering sounds in the ear. Having high blood pressure causes blood to push on the delicate structures of the ear, leading to the fluttering.

Incidents of increased stress or even alcohol and caffeine consumption can make tinnitus more pronounced.

Conditions related to blood vessels that have contributing effects on blood pressure include atherosclerosis , turbulent blood flow, malformation of capillaries, and even head and neck tumors. Sinus infection: Commonly due to a bacterial infection, sinus infections cause your sinuses to become filled with fluid, resulting in increased sinus pressure and pain. This increase in facial pressure can lead to fluttering in the ear and dizziness as well as make you feel nauseous and create headaches.

Eustachian tube dysfunction : Another common cause of experiencing fluttering sounds in the ear is the abnormality in the small tube that connects the near between the back of the nose and the upper part of the throat. This can often be seen in action during altitude changes when you experience a popping sound in the ear. When there is a eustachian tube dysfunction, such as in the case of respiratory infection or an allergic reaction blocking the tube, the fluid accumulation can occur.

This leads the pressure inside to become higher than normal and possibly create a fluttering-like sound when you open your mouth and yawn. Drugs or medications: There are many over-the-counter and prescription drugs that can damage the auditory nerve, which is responsible for allowing us to hear.

They are often referred to as being ototoxic. If used incorrectly and as a side effect of using the drug, a patient may experience sudden hearing loss, tinnitus, or uncomfortable sounds such as popping, crunching, or fluttering in the ear.

This may be seen when taking high doses of ibuprofen, certain antibiotic medication, and some diuretic drugs. Botox treatment has been used as well. Tinnitus is often described as ringing in the ears, but people with tinnitus also describe other sounds, including:. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders estimates that nearly 25 million Americans have experienced at least five minutes of tinnitus in the past year.

The most common cause of tinnitus is extended exposure to loud sounds, although a sudden, extremely loud sound can cause it as well. People who are exposed to loud noises at work e. Up to 90 percent of people with tinnitus have some level of noise-induced hearing loss. Tinnitus is recognized as a potential side effect for about nonprescription and prescription drugs including aspirin and certain antibiotics, antidepressants, and anti-inflammatories.

Unwanted sounds in your ears can be distracting and irritating. They might be the result of a number of causes including, rarely, an eardrum spasm. If they are particularly loud or frequent, they can interfere with your quality of life. If you have frequent ringing — or other noises that cannot be identified from your surroundings — in your ears, discuss your situation with your doctor who might refer you to an otolaryngologist or otologic surgeon.

Eardrum repair is a surgical procedure used to fix a hole or tear in the eardrum tympanic membrane. A retracted eardrum occurs when your eardrum gets pulled inward, usually due to an imbalance in the pressure inside and outside your year. Tympanectomy, a procedure that detaches the muscles from the middle ear, can provide relief for some people.

Dysfunctions in the eustachian tube from swelling or an inability to open and close properly can cause:. Sometimes, people develop eustachian tube dysfunction following an upper respiratory tract infection or allergies.

Tumors and injuries to the ear can also cause eustachian tube dysfunction. Learn more about eustachian tube dysfunction here. Symptoms may resolve after a few days. Swallowing, yawning, chewing, and forced exhalation can all help equalize pressure across the middle ear and resolve the symptoms. Doctors may suggest one of the following nonsurgical approaches, but to date, limited evidence supports their use:. Some surgical procedures may also relieve symptoms of eustachian tube dysfunction.

The most common procedure is the insertion of a pressure-equalizing tube. Patulous eustachian tube is a type of dysfunction wherein the tube stays open most of the time. Typically, the tube stays closed and only opens to equalize air pressure between the middle ear and the outside environment.

Some symptoms of patulous eustachian tube include:. Doctors are unsure of the cause of patulous eustachian tube. In some cases, weight loss and pregnancy may predispose a person to this condition. When these interventions are not sufficient to reduce symptoms, however, a person may require surgery.

After 12 weeks of treatment, participants reported significant reductions in these symptoms. The study only included a small number of participants, however, so further studies are necessary to confirm these findings. Researchers suggest that having high blood pressure may predispose a person to hearing loss.

A lack of sufficient blood flow to the cochlea in the ear caused by blood pressure variability can affect hearing.