Pulsatile Tinnitus

Rhythmic whooshing in time with the heartbeat

Overview

Pulsatile tinnitus is a rhythmic sound, often a whoosh or thump, that keeps time with the pulse. Unlike the more common steady ringing, it often has an identifiable physical source, usually turbulent blood flow in vessels near the ear. Causes range from benign anatomical variants and high cardiac output states to idiopathic intracranial hypertension, vascular malformations, and some middle ear tumors such as paragangliomas. Because a specific cause can sometimes be found, new pulsatile tinnitus is typically evaluated by a clinician, often with imaging of the blood vessels.