I hear this crackling noise in my ear, sounds like rice crispies. I hear it a lot and most of the day.?

its annoying and most of the time its painless but every once in awhile it hurts just a tad. Its so random I thought it would make the noise when i ate but it just does it when it wants to i even tried to see if it was something that i was doing or eating but its just random. I've been to the doctors but all he told me was its a virus, he didnt tell me which one. My hearing is fine. Just want to get peoples take on it cause i dont think that doctor was really that great seemed like he had other things on his mind.