What is pulsatile tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a sound that only you can hear. It is a symptom of another condition, therefore can only be treated by treating the underlying condition. Often, tinnitus is associated with hearing loss. The noise may be a ringing, humming or buzzing. People suffer with tinnitus in different ways; some people suffer consistently and others only suffer intermittently. Whilst it is not harmful, it can be very debilitating for sufferers.

So, what is pulsatile tinnitus?

Pulsatile tinnitus is different than the traditional tinnitus described above. Basically, it is a rhythmic thumping or whooshing in one or both ears. Significantly, this rhythm follows the pattern of your heartbeat. This kind of tinnitus is more likely to have an underlying medical condition that needs to be treated. If this form of tinnitus sounds familiar to you, you should visit your GP or local Audiologist.

What is the cause of pulsatile tinnitus?

There is a lot of blood around and going to the ears. This means that any type of disorder which affects the vascular system may cause pulsatile tinnitus. There are a huge range of conditions that can cause this type of tinnitus, but here are a few of the most common:

• Head or neck trauma
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Middle ear tumours
• Blood vessel abnormalities
• Anaemia
• Arthrosclerosis

What happens after a diagnosis of pulsatile tinnitus?

Pulsatile tinnitus can be diagnosed by an Audiologist or ENT consultant after a comprehensive evaluation and several different tests. As we already stated, tinnitus is the symptom of another condition. This means that for the tinnitus to improve, the underlying condition needs to be treated. A lot of vascular conditions can be managed with medication, which in turn can reduce the pulsatile tinnitus. The most important thing is to ensure you have a correct diagnosis of the underlying condition so that the correct condition is being treated.

Occasionally, in some rare cases, pulsatile tinnitus can happen with no underlying cause. In this case, sufferers are often prescribed treatment such as relaxation and counselling techniques.

Tinnitus can be exceptionally bothersome, affecting all aspects of life. The effects can be debilitating and include fatigue, stress, difficulty concentrating and carrying out tasks, sleep problems, headaches and depression. This is why it is so important to seek a diagnosis for the cause of your tinnitus so it can be treated. If you would like any further advice, or to book yourself in for a tinnitus consultation, please just give us a call.