Pulsating Tinnitus

Pulsating tinnitus is also known as Pulsatile or Vascular Tinnitus. It occurs when the tinnitus sounds experienced appear to beat in time with the pulse, and affects around 3% of tinnitus sufferers. Sufferers hear noises resembling humming, thumping, swooshing or blowing sounds.
What causes Pulsating Tinnitus?

Pulsating tinnitus is generally the result of either a change in the blood flow in the blood vessels near to the ear, ie in the neck and the base of the skull, or an increase in your awareness of the blood flow. This can occur for a variety of reasons;

Increased blood flow; quick flowing blood causes more noise than slower flowing blood, usually heard as a humming noise known as Venous Hum, which may beat in time with the pulse. Placing your head in different positions can affect the loudness of the hum. Blood flow can increase in people who are pregnant or suffering from anemia, particularly in the jugular vein, which delivers blood to the heart from the brain.

When the arteries become hardened due to atherosclerosis, the inside of the blood vessels becomes rough, and the flow of blood is affected, causing greater noise. Another cause could be Otosclerosis, which causes the stirrup bone in the middle ear to harden. This prevents it from vibrating, which reduces its ability to pick up sounds. This condition causes progressive hearing loss, and can cause the skull to conduct the sounds of the blood flow in the absence of outside noises.

Our bodily functions produce sounds constantly, but we do not generally hear these as they are masked by outside noises. If we experience reduced hearing, such as a build up of wax in the ears, we become much more sensitive to internal sounds.

Other possible causes of pulsating tinnitus are;

Fluid in the middle ear; the middle ear usually only contains air, but can sometimes fill with fluid as the result of an infection or inflammation. Other symptoms, such as discomfort, feelings of pressure or loss of hearing may be present. This is usually treated with antibiotics or nasal sprays, but in some extreme cases may require surgery.

Other ear conditions such as Meniere’s disease can result in pulsating tinnitus.

Tumors in the middle ear, known as Glomus tumors, can cause pulsating tinnitus as they demand an increased blood supply. These tumors are usually benign, and are normally removed surgically.

Other inner ear Conditions such as Eustachian tube dysfunction can also cause Pulsating Tinnitus. Pulsating Tinnitus can also be caused by a Carotid artery-cavernous sinus fistula, which is an abnormality between a large artery and a large venous pool which develops within the cranial cavity. This can result from trauma to the area, such as an injury, and is usually treated by a Radiologist.

AVM (Arteriovenous malformations); these are abnormal arteries and veins which can occur in the cranial cavity and affect the auditory nerve by pulsating against it, causing Pulsating tinnitus noise. AVM’s can develop in the womb or later in life as the result of trauma to the area. Treatment for this usually involves surgery.

If you suspect that you may have pulsating tinnitus, discuss this with your doctor, who will perform a variety of diagnostic tests, including an ultrasound scan, MRI scan, x-rays or blood tests.

Treatments

Standard methods of treating tinnitus, such as sound therapy, masking and Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, can be effective in treating pulsating tinnitus.

Causes such as AVM, ear infections or tumors can be treated effectively with medication, which should result in the decrease of Pulsating Tinnitus once these conditions are under control.
by: Stephanie Cooke