Pulsatile Tinnitus

Pulsatile tinnitus is rare, brought on by constricted blood flow in and around the ears. When you hear sounds to the rhythm of your own heartbeat, that’s pulsatile tinnitus.

Most people experience pulsatile tinnitus in just one ear, but it can occur in both. And while pulsatile tinnitus usually isn’t anything to worry about, the condition may be a sign of an underlying health complication – so, see your GP for advice if you’re not sure what’s causing your symptoms.

Boots Hearingcare takes a look at some of the most important information about pulsatile tinnitus, including how it’s diagnosed and various options for treatment…

Symptoms of pulsatile tinnitus
Pulsatile tinnitus causes
Pulsatile tinnitus diagnosis
Pulsatile tinnitus treatment
FAQs

Like regular tinnitus, the pulsatile form of this condition has ringing in the ear as its chief symptom. People may also hear whooshing, grinding, hissing or whistling noises.

Bear in mind, though, you are more likely to hear a thumping or throbbing sound if you have pulsatile tinnitus. This will beat in time with your pulse, owing to it being an effect of blood circulating around the body. Either or both ears may be affected.
 

While standard tinnitus usually has no identifiable cause, it is more likely that there will be an underlying factor behind pulsatile tinnitus, so it’s important to be aware of this to get correctly diagnosed and treated.
Some common causes of pulsatile tinnitus include:

• High blood pressure
• Hyperthyroidism – when the thyroid gland is overactive
• Blockage in your arteries
• Altered awareness – brought on by factors such as conductive hearing loss
• Head or neck tumours

If you do happen to notice any signs that could indicate pulsatile tinnitus, then contact your doctor as soon as possible for examination and confirmation of diagnosis.

After an initial review of your symptoms and medical history, a medical professional will examine your ears and neck - to check how well the blood is circulating.

It is also likely that they will arrange additional tests to determine the exact nature of your condition. These may include:

• A hearing check
• Blood test
• MRI
• CT scan
• Angiogram (reviewing how well your blood vessels are functioning)
• Ultrasound

If your doctor can detect pulsatile tinnitus with just a stethoscope on your neck or skull, you will be diagnosed as having objective pulsatile tinnitus. If not, it’ll be classified as subjective pulsatile tinnitus.

Most of the time, pulsatile tinnitus is treated by addressing the underlying cause.

For instance, if it’s being brought on by high blood pressure or a vein or artery condition, pulsatile tinnitus can go away with a combination of medication and lifestyle changes. These may include:

• Regular exercise
• Quitting smoking
• Reducing stress
• Switching to a low-sodium diet

Sometimes, though, pulsatile tinnitus treatment means training your brain to ignore tinnitus sounds, thereby limiting its impact on your day-to-day life. Options include:

• Sound therapy
• Cognitive behavioural therapy
• Tinnitus retraining therapy
• Relaxation exercises
• Mindfulness techniques

Pulsatile tinnitus is usually not a cause for concern; however, some cases can point to potentially serious health conditions, so it’s vital you get checked out by your GP or a trained audiologist as soon as possible.

Think you might have pulsatile tinnitus? Book an appointment with Boots Hearingcare now for a local hearing test in your area…