Wonderful Tinnitus Info: Treatment For Pulsatile Tinnitus

In very rare cases, tinnitus may even be a symptom of an aneurysm or a brain tumour.

Pulsatile tinnitus treatment generally requires the patient to undergo a series of scanning test of the head and neck area. The three types of scanning methods which are Ultrasound scanning, Computed Tomography Scanning (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). If required, a method called Angiography is used to get a clearer and more detailed images. This involved injecting a dye into a blood vessel and x-ray images are taken to diagnose problems in the blood flow. This method, however, is quite time consuming. Blood tests may also be required to check for anaemia or other blood related problems like hypertension.

Pulsatile tinnitus is mainly attributed to vascular abnormalities and this cause the sound of your pulse to be heard in your ears. The sound rhymes at the same rate as the pulse and the sound can be a soft pulsating humming or thumping sound. Blood flowing through a constricted blood vessel can cause a sound of turbulence to be heard, especially if the blood vessel is in the head or neck area which are near to the ear. The problem area is often found to be in the temporal area which is the sides and base of the skull and this is where the inner ear is located. Increased blood flow in the case of severe anemia can also cause pulsatile tinnitus.

Pulsatile tinnitus can occur in people with a high-riding abnormal jugular bulb. The jugular bulb is located in the lower part of the middle ear. Another possible cause of pulsatile tinnitus is due to vascular tumors in the middle ear which is often benign (not cancerous) and this would require surgery to remove the tumor.

Eustachian tube dysfunction may also be another cause of pulsatile tinnitus. The Eustachian tube links the middle ear to the throat and works to equalize the pressure in middle ear and external ear (atmospheric pressure). The Eustachian tube is closed most of the time and opens when a person swallows or yawns, relieving excess pressure in the middle ear. A sinus (nose) infection can cause a buildup of mucus that block the normal opening of the Eustachian tube. Treatment for pulsatile tinnitus can be treated successfully if proper diagnostic tests are carried out and proper treatment given.

The idea behind it is to re-train the ear and brain of the patient.