Emily Dickenson, while writing her poem said that she has heard an imaginary bee sound in her ear? Well, Dickenson might be speaking in metaphorical terms but really, if you hear that buzzing, hissing or clicking sound more often, then it could be pulsatile tinnitus already! Pulsatile Tinnitus is not communicable and is just a symptom of another complication in the ear or in the brain. The disorder’s condition may vary from the most common disturbance in the ear to the worst case that may need surgery after quite sometime. If you have experienced these symptoms already, it is good to know some basic information about pulsatile tinnitus or possibly schedule a doctor consultation.
Common Symptoms

What kind of sounds really resembles pulsatile tinnitus? Patients said that they hear a buzzing, whistling, hissing and sometimes high-pitched, nerve-wracking sound that often disturbed them in their daily routine. Patients with subjective tinnitus may also hear clicking sounds that cannot be heard by other people. There is also another variety of this disorder wherein the doctor can actually hear that hissing sound while he is examining your ear!

Factors that Cause Pulatile Tinnitus

There are various theories that tried to explain the causes of pulsatile tinnitus. Age is one of the most popular contributing factors to this disorder. As one grows old, our nerve endings somehow loose its retention and power especially when you are under medication, under a lot of stress or has been in a major surgery that needs anesthesia. Our ear, particularly its cochlea, can also be damaged. When one grows older, the cochlea may not be sending the right signals to the brain so that there will be times when the brain misinterprets the signal and may react differently like sending that hissing or buzzing sound back in your ear.

Patients with brain tumors or acoustic neuroma also have likelihood to experience pulatile tinnitus. The tumor inside the brain may block the normal flow of blood circulation and transmission of sound waves from the ear. Patients with this kind of tumor may also experience differently because they can only hear that hissing sound in one ear while the other ear is functioning normally. People with Meniere’s disease may also experience hearing loss and tinnitus. But, luckily, the symptoms will not distract them for a long time.

Tests and Possible Cures

If you experience the abovementioned symptoms, never rely on instincts but instead consult your doctor immediately. The doctor will then interview and diagnose you for the kind of tinnitus you are experiencing.  Expect an initial evaluation and a thorough physical examination. The use of devices like an audiogram to test your hearing ability, a CT scan or the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) should also be included in your budget. The use of these devices may cost you money but surely, they will help get accurate results. If the doctor suspects of a stroke or the presence of acoustic neuroma, he may use the spinal tap in measuring the fluid pressure in your nervous system.

Surely, you want to feel and live comfortably. Never take for granted that hissing and buzzing sound that have distracted you for quite some time now.  Remember, your hearing disorder may affect your overall personality and self-perception. Life is beautiful. We must make all faculties in our body in good condition to enjoy life.