
On top of the lack of sleep, pulsatile tinnitus can be annoying enough to cause a lack of concentration in everyday life, hearing loss, and difficulty not thinking about the muffled thumping sound that can seem ever-present. The first complication is a lack of sleep because sleeplessness can cause numerous other issues. While pulsatile tinnitus can be the sign of a more serious underlying condition, it also comes with its own complications. Can Pulsatile Tinnitus Cause Complications? Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER)įor some patients, the cause of pulsatile tinnitus may remain unknown, but it is important to rule out all of the serious possibilities.Your medical team may also want to take images or do other tests to diagnosis pulsatile tinnitus including: They will also check the blood vessels in your head, neck, and ear canal. Your doctor will also examine your eyes and look at your jaw to check for increased pressure in the brain. If you think you have pulsatile tinnitus, you should undergo a thorough medical evaluation including hearing tests and having the doctor examine your ears. When the blood flow in these arteries changes, pulsatile tinnitus is a common side effect. Blood Vessel Disorders or Irregular Blood VesselsĪnother common cause of pulsatile tinnitus is when your blood vessels or arteries, especially those around the ears, are not working properly. You become more aware of internal sounds when you struggle to hear external ones. Even compacted ear wax or an ear infection can lead to pulsatile tinnitus. This is one of the most common causes of pulsatile tinnitus and can be caused by a ruptured eardrum or other hearing loss event. Unlike with regular tinnitus, doctors can often pinpoint an underlying health problem behind pulsatile tinnitus. Here are some other symptoms you might notice: If you notice any of these symptoms you should see a doctor right away. 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. The beat or sound may be constant or it may come and go, but the overriding symptom is that pulsing noise. Sometimes you hear it in one ear and sometimes in two, and the sound can be loud and unbearable. The primary symptom associated with pulsatile tinnitus is that you regularly hear a sound with a steady beat that syncs up with your pulse. What Are The Symptoms Of Pulsatile Tinnitus? 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. 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. The pulsing noise tends to be synched with the heartbeat and is often described as a “whoosing” sound heard when the heart beats. Be sure to speak to your doctor for the best advice specific to your condition and circumstances.Pulsatile tinnitus is a rhythmic pulsing noise in one or both ears and occurs in the absence of external sound. What follows is a general overview of the causes of tinnitus and may not be relevant to individual cases. He/she will also check your hearing as age-related hearing loss can cause this condition. A doctor will check your heart and blood pressure as tinnitus sometimes indicates a circulatory problem. Knowing why you are feeling a pulse in the ear and understanding the possible causes can provide some reassurance. Make sure that you see a doctor, who will also check brain function and coordination as tinnitus may be a tell-tale sign of neurological diseases, which can get worse if left untreated. It can actually be extremely uncomfortable if the symptom is persistent. Good diagnosis, medical care and treatment of the underlying causes can help relieve that heartbeat in the ear. It is a pulse in the ear – often in one ear, sometimes in both.

Tinnitus affects up to one fifth of all people and is even more common in the elderly.
