Clicking Noises When Swallowing: 7 Causes

Should you’ve noticed a clicking sound while you swallow, it can feel unsettling—but you’re not alone. This odd noise could stem from something as simple as swallowing too much air or as complex as muscle dysfunction in your throat. Perhaps it’s inflammation, an obstruction, or even stress tightening your muscles. Comprehending these seven causes can help you pinpoint what’s going on and ease your mind. Let’s break it down so you know what to watch for.

Dysphagia and Swallowing Difficulties

Should you’ve ever noticed a clicking noise while swallowing, it could be due to dysphagia—a condition that makes swallowing tougher than it should be.

Dysphagia often comes with pain when swallowing, making meals feel like a chore. You may feel like food gets stuck or hear odd noises when you try to eat. Causes range from inflammation or ulcers to muscle or nerve issues.

Should it be persistent, don’t ignore it—see a doctor. Meanwhile, soften foods or thicken liquids to ease discomfort. Chew slowly, sit upright, and avoid distractions while eating.

Should stress tighten your throat, relax before meals. Small sips of water can help, but avoid gulping air.

Timely action keeps minor issues from worsening.

Aerophagia and Excess Air Swallowing

Should you ever heard a faint clicking sound when swallowing or felt like you’re constantly gulping air, you could be contending with aerophagia—an often-overlooked issue where you swallow too much air without realizing it. This excess air can cause bloating, belching, or even that odd clicking noise. It’s common when you eat too fast, talk while chewing, or sip carbonated drinks. In case you’ve noticed difficulty swallowing or frequent discomfort, aerophagia could be the culprit.

Small changes can make a big difference. Try adjusting your habits and see whether the clicking fades.

Esophageal Obstructions or Strictures

You may hear a clicking sound while swallowing should your esophagus have narrowed due to obstructions or strictures.

These blockages can make it harder for food to pass through smoothly, creating odd noises as it moves.

Conditions like acid reflux or scarring often cause strictures, leading to discomfort and those unexpected clicks.

Narrowing Causing Discomfort

Ever notice a clicking sound as you swallow, like something’s catching in your throat? That could be due to narrowing in your esophagus, often caused by obstructions or strictures.

Whenever scar tissue or inflammation tightens the passage, food struggles to slide through smoothly, creating that odd click. You may feel discomfort, especially with dry or solid foods, as though they’re sticking halfway down.

Conditions like GERD can trigger this by irritating your esophagus over time. Doctors usually check with an endoscopy—a tiny camera—to spot the problem.

In case it’s a stricture, they may stretch it open or suggest meds to ease reflux. Staying hydrated and chewing thoroughly helps, but don’t ignore persistent symptoms.

Prompt care prevents worse narrowing down the line.

Blockages Leading to Clicks

Why does swallowing sometimes come with an unexpected click? Should you feel a clicking sound when swallowing, obstructions in your esophagus could be the culprit.

These blockages can happen due to strictures—narrowing from scar tissue caused by conditions like GERD or inflammation. Tumors or benign growths can also create a tight spot, making it harder for food to pass smoothly.

Even foreign objects, like a piece of food stuck in your throat, can cause intermittent clicks as you swallow. Conditions like achalasia, where the esophagus doesn’t relax properly, add to the struggle.

Doctors often diagnose these issues with tests like a barium swallow or endoscopy. Should you notice persistent clicking, don’t ignore it—getting checked verifies you catch any hidden problems swiftly.

Inflammation of the Throat or Esophagus

As you swallow and it feels off, noticing a clicking sound, inflammation in your throat or esophagus could be the culprit.

This swelling, called esophagitis or pharyngitis, often brings discomfort while swallowing, making even simple actions like drinking water feel odd. It could stem from infections, acid reflux, or irritants like smoke.

The inflamed tissue can create subtle noises as it moves, adding to that unsettling click. You could also feel a soreness or burning sensation, especially if reflux is involved.

To ease it, try anti-inflammatory meds, throat lozenges, or avoiding spicy foods. If symptoms linger, a doctor may suggest an endoscopy to check for deeper issues.

Staying hydrated and steering clear of irritants can help calm the inflammation faster.

Structural Abnormalities in the Larynx or Hyoid Bone

Should your hyoid bone be misaligned, it can rub against nearby cartilage and cause clicking sounds whenever you swallow.

The way your laryngeal cartilage moves during swallowing may also create these noises in case something’s out of place.

You’re not imagining it—these structural quirks can make everyday actions feel awkward or even painful.

Hyoid Bone Misalignment

Upon swallowing and hearing a clicking sound, it could be because your hyoid bone isn’t sitting quite right. This small, U-shaped bone supports your tongue and helps with swallowing, but should it be misaligned, it may rub against nearby structures like the thyroid cartilage, causing that odd click.

Sometimes, the space between your hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage shortens, restricting movement and making the sound worse. This issue, called clicking larynx syndrome, is rare—only 16 cases are reported, mostly in women—but it can be frustrating or even distressing.

Should it bother you, surgery like hyoid reduction may help. While it’s not common, understanding your hyoid bone could be the culprit assists you in grasping what’s going on and investigating solutions.

Laryngeal Cartilage Movement

At the time you swallow and hear a clicking sound, it could be due to unusual movement in your laryngeal cartilage—the flexible structures supporting your voice box and throat.

Should these structures shift abnormally, like while your thyroid cartilage bumps against your hyoid bone, it may cause clicking larynx syndrome. This rare condition, found mostly in women, happens as the laryngeal cartilage moves differently than usual during swallowing.

You may feel discomfort or notice odd sounds, especially should the distance between bones be shorter or should cartilage be out of place. Doctors often use imaging to spot these structural quirks.

While it’s unsettling, understanding the cause helps manage it better—so don’t ignore persistent clicks!

Muscle Dysfunction in the Swallowing Mechanism

Here’s what could be going wrong:

• Poor muscle coordination: Your swallowing muscles aren’t timing their movements right.
• Neurological hiccups: Nerve signals misfire, disrupting the swallow reflex.
• Weak pharyngeal muscles: They struggle to push food down efficiently.
• Hyperactive tensor veli palatini: This muscle tightens, affecting Eustachian tube function.
• Dysphagia: A broader swallowing disorder that strains the process.

A speech therapist can pinpoint the exact issue and guide you toward solutions.

Stress and Anxiety Exacerbations

In case you’ve noticed clicking noises during swallowing, stress and anxiety could be making them feel worse—even though they aren’t causing the issue directly.

Whenever you’re stressed, your body tenses up, including the muscles in your throat, which could amplify the sound. Anxiety also heightens your awareness of normal bodily functions, turning small noises into big concerns. You may fixate on the clicking, making it seem louder or more frequent than it really is.

While stress doesn’t create the problem, it can magnify your discomfort. Simple steps like deep breathing, staying hydrated, or talking to someone about your worries can help ease the tension.

Don’t forget, you’re not alone—many people experience this, and managing stress often brings relief.