Eardrum Spasm: Symptoms And Causes - Healthline

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Eardrum Spasm

Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M.D. — Written by Scott Frothingham — Updated on April 18, 2023

Spasm
Tinnitus
Takeaway

Eardrum spasms can be caused by many things. Depending on the cause, there are medications that can help. See an otolaryngologist (ENT) for the right treatment.

It’s rare, but sometimes the muscles that control the tension of the eardrum have an involuntary contraction or spasm, similar to a twitch you may feel in a muscle elsewhere in your body, like your leg or your eye.

Eardrum spasm

The tensor tympani and stapedius muscles in your middle ear are protective. They dampen the sound of noises coming from outside the ear, and they reduce the sound of noises coming from the inside the body, such as the sound of our own voice, chewing, and so on. When these muscles spasm, the result can be middle ear myoclonus (MEM), also known as MEM tinnitus.

MEM is a rare condition — occurring in about 6 of 10,000 people — in which tinnitus (buzzing or ringing in ears) is produced by repetitive and synchronized contractions of the tensor tympani and stapedius muscles.

The tensor tympani muscle attaches to the malleus bone — a hammer shaped bone that transmits sound vibrations from the eardrum. When it spasms, it makes a thumping or clicking sound.
The stapedius muscle attaches to the stapes bone, which conducts sound to the cochlea — a spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear. When it’s in spasm, it makes a buzzing or crackling sound.

According to a 2012 review of case reports and case series, there is no conclusive diagnostic test or treatment for MEM. Surgery on the stapedius and tensor tympani tendons (tenotomy) has been used for treatment — with varying degrees of success — when more conservative treatments have failed. A 2014 clinical study suggests an endoscopic version of this surgery as a possible therapeutic option. First-line treatment typically includes:

muscle relaxants
anticonvulsants
zygomatic pressure

Botox treatment has been used as well.

Tinnitus

Tinnitus isn’t a disease; it’s a symptom. It’s an indication that something is wrong in the auditory system — the ear, the auditory nerve, and the brain.

Tinnitus is often described as ringing in the ears, but people with tinnitus also describe other sounds, including:

buzzing
clicking
roaring
hissing

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.g., carpenters, pilots, and landscapers) and people who use loud equipment (e.g., jackhammers, chainsaws, and guns) are among those who are at risk. Up to 90 percent of people with tinnitus have some level of noise-induced hearing loss.

Other conditions that may cause ringing and other sounds in the ears include:

eardrum rupture
earwax blockage
labyrinthitis
Meniere’s disease
concussion
thyroid abnormalities
temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome
acoustic neuroma
otosclerosis
brain tumor

Tinnitus is recognized as a potential side effect for about 200 nonprescription and prescription drugs including aspirin and certain antibiotics, antidepressants, and anti-inflammatories.

The takeaway

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.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Badia L, et al. (1994). Managementof middle ear myoclonus.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8035114
Bhimrao SK, et al. (2012).Systematic review of management strategies for middle ear myoclonus. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599811434504
Ellenstein A, et al. (2013).Middle ear myoclonus: Two informative cases and a systematic discussion of myogenictinnitus. DOI:https://doi.org/10.7916/D8RX9BS1
Park S, et al. (2012). Palatal myoclonusassociated with orofacial buccal dystonia. DOI:https://doi.org/10.3342/ceo.2012.5.1.44
Roach K. (2014). Ear twitch won’taffect hearing.https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/health/to-your-good-health/ear-twitch-won-t-affect-hearing/article_33138de3-438a-59e7-b2bf-d5dff6227b2d.html
Tinnitus. (2017).https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/tinnitus

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Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M.D. — Written by Scott Frothingham — Updated on April 18, 2023

Eardrum Spasm: Symptoms And Causes - Healthline

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