There two types of tinnitus – subjective and objective tinnitus. The first is the most common type that occurs in 97% of the cases and occurs with conditions like hearing loss, Meniere’s disease, ear diseases, allergies, and sinus infections. In this type, only the person hears his or her tinnitus, which is often characterized by ringing in the ears or hearing noises in the ears with no apparent source. The other type, called objective tinnitus, occurs in rare cases and is accompanied by thumping, pulsing sensation in the ears and may synchronize with heart rhythm. This is why it is also called pulsatile tinnitus.

This kind of ear condition creates rhythmic pulsing sensations in the ears as if the person is hearing his or her heartbeat inside the ears. Unlike subjective tinnitus, the thumping or clicking bats in the ears may be heard in regular intervals. An interesting thing about this condition is that it can be heard by another person who leans close enough to the sufferers ears. In most cases, a doctor can hear the ear beating noise through an instrument like a stethoscope.

A person who experiences pulsatile tinnitus should seek immediate medical attention because he or she may be suffering from a cardiovascular condition that needs to be corrected before becoming a serious disorder. Indeed, this type of tinnitus occurs with blood circulation problems that affect the arteries or capillaries near the ears.

Problems with blood flow in the neck or head are usually found in a lot of patients with pulsing sensation in the ears. Thus it is important to note that nerve damage is rarely, if at all, accompanied by thumping sensation in the ears. Constriction of any portion of the blood vessels near the ears may cause turbulence or disturbance of blood circulation in the area. Increase in blood volume due to water retention or high blood sodium concentration can also trigger this condition. This means that blood pressure is an important factor. Patients who suffer from either hypertension or hypotension can experience disturbed blood flow. So are patients with anemia or atherosclerosis.

This kind of tinnitus may be well treated by first identifying the cardiovascular ailment, which could be the cause of tinnitus that brings it about and then treating the main concern. This is why going to a GP is important once you hear abnormal noise inside your head or ears without apparent source. Pulsatile tinnitus is not a disorder in itself but a warning of an underlying one.