What Causes Echoes in the Ears?

Echoes in the ears may be caused by foreign bodies in the external auditory canal, ear pressure, secretory otitis media, and other reasons. Once patients experience symptoms such as ear itchiness and mild pain, they need to seek medical attention promptly.

1. Foreign Bodies in the External Auditory Canal: This generally refers to shed hair, granular dust, earwax flakes, etc., which may prompt the foreign bodies to touch the eardrum and produce echoes when walking, chewing, or flicking the tragus. Under the guidance of a doctor, tools such as cotton swabs, tweezers, and earpicks can be used to remove the foreign bodies, and the symptoms will disappear immediately.

2. Barotrauma of the Ear: It is usually caused by diving, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, flying, and other reasons. Rapid changes in pressure inside and outside the body result in a pressure difference that causes damage to the middle ear. Patients may experience ear pain, ear fullness, echoes, and other symptoms. They can relieve pressure and symptoms by yawning, swallowing, and chewing.

3. Secretory Otitis Media: It may be caused by infections, tooth dislocations, occlusion, heredity, and other reasons. Fluid accumulates in the middle ear of patients, leading to symptoms such as tinnitus, ear obstruction, and ear echoes. Under the guidance of a doctor, methods such as nose pinching and blowing, catheterization, and the Valsalva maneuver are used to alleviate symptoms.

In addition to the above reasons, it may also be caused by adenoid hypertrophy, among others. Patients usually need to avoid ear injuries as much as possible, engage in some physical exercise appropriately, quit smoking, and limit alcohol consumption.