What Is Pulsatile Tinnitus?
Pulsatile tinnitus is a rhythmic pulsing noise in one or both ears and occurs in the absence of external sound. The pulsing noise tends to be synched with the heartbeat and is often described as a whooshing sound heard when the heart beats. In some patients, pulsatile tinnitus is nothing more than an annoyance, but in others it can be debilitating making it difficult to concentrate or sleep. If left untreated, it may lead to insomnia, depression, and overall decrease in one’s quality of life.
With pulsatile tinnitus, the sound actually comes from within your own body, likely has a definable source, and can be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.
Causes of Ear Pulsations
Ear pulsations, also called pulsatile tinnitus, happen when you hear a sound in your ear that beats like your heartbeat. This can happen for several reasons. One common cause is increased blood flow or circulation near the ear. Sometimes, nearby blood vessels send stronger pulses that you can hear inside your auditory canal.
Other causes may include:
- High blood pressure – When your blood pressure is too high, you may hear the blood moving more strongly.
- Ear infections or fluid buildup – These can change the way sound moves through your ear.
- Blocked or narrow blood vessels – This can make the blood flow uneven, causing pulsing sounds.
- Tumors or growths near the ear or neck – These are rare but can press on blood vessels and cause pulsations.
- Hearing loss or ear damage – Sometimes, changes in hearing can make your ear more sensitive to internal sounds.
If you notice ear pulsations often or if they bother you, it’s important to see a doctor or audiologist. They can check your ears and help find the cause.
What Are The Symptoms Of Pulsatile Tinnitus?
The primary symptom associated with pulsatile tinnitus is that you regularly hear a sound with a steady beat that syncs up with your pulse. Sometimes you hear it in one ear and sometimes in two, and the sound can be loud and unbearable. The beat or sound may be constant or it may come and go, it may also present as an echo, but the overriding symptom is that pulsing noise.
The other symptoms that can be present with pulsatile tinnitus stem from another medical condition called idiopathic intracranial hypertension which is high pressure in the fluid around your brain. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor right away for an examination and proper diagnosis. Here are some other symptoms you might notice:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Vision Problems
- Hearing Loss
Diagnosing the Condition
If you hear pulsing sounds in your ear, a doctor or audiologist can help find out what’s causing it. First, they will ask you questions about your symptoms, like when the sound started, how often you hear it, and what it sounds like. They may also ask if you have any other problems, such as hearing loss, ear pain, or dizziness.
Next, they will do a physical exam. This includes looking inside your ears to check for earwax, infection, or fluid buildup. You may also get a hearing test to see how well you hear sounds and speech.
In some cases, your doctor may suggest imaging tests like an MRI or CT scan to look at the blood vessels near your ears. These tests can help find problems like narrow arteries, unusual blood flow, problems in your vascular system, or rare growths.
The goal is to find out what’s causing the pulsing sound so the right treatment can be given. If the problem is caught early, it’s often easy to treat. That’s why it’s important to see a hearing specialist if you notice any unusual sounds in your ears.
Common Medical Explanations
There are several medical reasons why you might hear pulsing sounds in your ear. One of the most common is high blood pressure. When your blood pressure is too high, it can make the blood flow stronger and louder near your ears.
Another reason could be fluid in the middle ear. This often happens with ear infections or colds. The fluid can block sound and make you more aware of your heartbeat.
Earwax buildup is also a common cause. When there’s too much wax, it can trap sound inside your ear and make your own pulse easier to hear.
Sometimes, people have problems with the blood vessels near their ears. These may be narrow, twisted, or blocked, which can change how the blood flows and cause a pulsing sound.
In rare cases, small tumors or growths near the ear or neck can press on blood vessels and cause pulsatile tinnitus. These are not common, but doctors will check for them if needed.
No matter the cause, it’s important to get checked by a doctor or audiologist. Finding the reason early helps you get the right care and feel better sooner.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Hearing a pulsing sound in your ear once in a while may not be a big problem. But if it happens often or doesn’t go away, it’s important to see a doctor or audiologist. This could be a sign of something that needs medical care.
You should seek help right away if you notice any of these symptoms along with the pulsing sound:
- Hearing loss or muffled hearing
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Ear pain or pressure
- Ringing or buzzing in your ears
- Pulsing sounds in only one ear
These signs could mean there is an infection, earwax blockage, or a problem with blood flow near your ear. Sometimes, even though the cause is not serious, it still needs proper care.
A hearing specialist can check your eardrum, do tests, and find out what’s causing the pulsing sound. Getting help early can make treatment easier and protect your hearing.
Don’t wait—if something feels wrong, it’s better to get it checked.
Can Pulsatile Tinnitus Cause Complications?
If ear pulsations are not treated, they can sometimes lead to other problems. While not all cases are serious, ignoring the symptoms could make things worse over time.
One possible complication is hearing loss. If the cause is an ear infection, fluid buildup, or earwax blockage, it could damage your hearing if left untreated.
Another concern is ongoing discomfort or stress. Hearing a constant pulsing sound can make it hard to sleep, concentrate, or relax, which can affect your daily life and mood.
In rare cases, ear pulsations may be linked to blood vessel problems or growths near the ear. If not found early, these conditions could lead to more serious health issues.
That’s why it’s important to see a doctor or audiologist if you notice pulsating sounds in your ear. Getting the right treatment early can help prevent problems and keep your ears healthy.
How Can I Stop The Pulsing Sound In My Ear?
To stop the pulsing sound, you will have to get to the root of the issue. You can find a discussion at the end of this article about what to do if there is no underlying cause to the tinnitus. The three most common ways to stop the pulsing sound are:
- Medication. Sometimes, a simple prescription can treat the underlying cause of pulsatile tinnitus. The most common causes that can be cured with medicine include hyperthyroidism, anemia, elevated intracranial hypertension, or high blood pressure.
- Surgery. Minimally invasive surgery will sometimes cure your pulsatile tinnitus. This often includes work on your arteries or blood vessels and often includes some type of stenting possibly for an aneurysm.
- Self-Management Techniques. These will be discussed more thoroughly later, but most self-management techniques do not cure the tinnitus; they just make it easier to live with it.
- Proper diet and exercise. You can help minimize pulsatile tinnitus by avoiding caffeine and ensuring that you eat the right kind of food that will nourish your body.
What Does Pulsatile Tinnitus Sound Like?
Pulsatile tinnitus has been described in a variety of ways, including a “whooshing” sound, a muffled thumping sound, and a heartbeat sound. The rhythmic throbbing in a person’s ears will often take on the same “beat” as your heartbeat. Even your doctor may be able to hear it with a stethoscope. The sound is actually an amplified sound of blood circulating through your arteries.
Could Heartbeat In Ear Lead To Hearing Loss?
Pulsatile tinnitus does not lead to hearing loss, but it can, and often does, occur together. In addition, head trauma, surgery, some tumors, and middle ear conductive hearing loss can all cause pulsatile tinnitus. When there is a consistent pulsing or “heartbeat” in your ear, you will experience some hearing loss due to the extra internal noise, and in that way, it does cause hearing loss.
Can stress cause a heartbeat sound in the ear?
Yes, stress can cause a heartbeat sound in the ear. When you feel stressed or anxious, your body reacts by increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. This can make the blood flow stronger and faster, especially near your ears. As a result, you might start to hear a pulsing or thumping sound in one or both ears. This is called pulsatile tinnitus.
While stress alone may not be the only cause, it can make the sound worse or more frequent. If you notice this happening often, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor or audiologist. They can help you figure out what’s causing the sound and how to manage it.
How serious is hearing a heartbeat in my ear?
Hearing a heartbeat in your ear can sometimes be harmless, but in other cases, it could be a sign of something more serious. One possible cause is atherosclerosis, which means the arteries are getting hard or narrow because of plaque buildup. This can make blood flow louder, and you might hear it in your ear.
Sometimes, the sound is caused by problems in the veins or an artery near your ear. There could be abnormalities, like a twisted or blocked vein or artery, that make the blood flow uneven and create a pulsing sound.
If you have a history of heart problems, high blood pressure, or atherosclerosis, it’s especially important to get this checked by a doctor. Your diet, lifestyle, and even weight loss can play a role in your overall heart and blood vessel health.
Treating Underlying Health Conditions For Pulsatile Tinnitus
One of the most important and concerning issues of pulsatile tinnitus is that there can be dangerous underlying conditions causing it. Some of those conditions include:
- Idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
- Arteriovenous malformations
- High blood pressure.
- Jugular sinus diverticulum.
- Dural arteriovenous shunts.
- Arterial stenosis.
It is important to speak with your doctor at the earliest onset signs of pulsatile tinnitus so that you can catch these underlying issues early if they are present. Some of the things that cause this type of tinnitus are life-threatening and need immediate medical attention while others are simple annoyances.
Treating Pulsatile Tinnitus
There are different types of treatments for pulsatile tinnitus, depending on what is causing the pulsing sound in your ear. The first step is to visit a doctor or audiologist who can find the cause and help you choose the best treatment plan.
If the sound is caused by earwax, an ear infection, or fluid buildup, these can often be treated with medications or a simple ear cleaning. If the problem is from high blood pressure or atherosclerosis, your doctor may suggest changes in your diet, weight loss, or medicine to improve blood flow.
There are also special treatments to help manage the sound itself. Some people benefit from sound therapy, which uses background noise like soft music or nature sounds to make the pulsing less noticeable. Others may try tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT). TRT combines sound therapy with special counseling to help your brain ignore the noise.
Another helpful option is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This treatment helps you manage any stress, worry, or sleep problems caused by the tinnitus.
Your healthcare provider will talk with you about the best type of treatment for your needs. With the right care, many people feel better and learn how to live more comfortably with pulsatile tinnitus.
Techniques For Managing Pulsatile Tinnitus Symptoms
If there are no underlying health conditions causing your pulsatile tinnitus, your doctor may give you some self-management techniques to help alleviate the symptoms. Some potential relief may be found through the following techniques:
- White Noise. Listening to white noise while you fall asleep.
- Tinnitus Retraining. You wear a device that plays music in a tone that helps you tune out the pulsing sound.
- Relaxation Techniques. Common relaxation techniques may help you forget about the annoyance of the tinnitus. This will also help minimize stress or anxiety brought about by the noises.
- Wearable Sound Generators. They look like hearing aids, but they emit a low-level background noise to combat the pulsatile tinnitus.
Bottomline
If you’ve been hearing a heartbeat sound in your ear, don’t ignore it. This could be your body’s way of telling you something important.
While hearing heartbeat in your ear may just be tinnitus, you still need to get a clear diagnosis as it could also be linked to more serious disorders such as arteriovenous malformation, heart disease, etc.
With the right information, you can better understand what’s happening and what to do next. It’s always best to get advise from a trusted healthcare provider or hearing care experts.
An audiologist can check your ears, answer your questions, give advice, and help create a treatment plan that’s right for you. Every person is different, so getting care based on your own needs is important. With the help of research, expert tips, and even the right medications if needed, you can feel better and protect your hearing.
If you or someone you know is suffering from hearing heartbeat in ears, don’t wait—make an appointment today and let the experts guide you toward better ear health.
