Pulsatile Tinnitus & Ear Clicking Sound Generator
Does your tinnitus pulse, whoosh, click, or throb? This free tool helps you match and identify the sound you hear, so you can describe it to your doctor.
A note about pulsatile tinnitus and your health: Pulsatile tinnitus is different from the constant ringing most people associate with tinnitus. Because it often involves blood flow, it can sometimes point to an underlying condition that a doctor can identify and treat. This is good news -- unlike most tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus often has a specific, treatable cause. We recommend that anyone with pulsatile tinnitus discuss it with their doctor, especially if it is a new symptom.
Match Pulsating Sound
My tinnitus pulses, whooshes, or thumps -- often in rhythm with my heartbeat.
Match Ear Clicking
My ear clicks, pops, crackles, or flutters -- regularly or irregularly.
Browse Sound Presets
Listen to example sounds of common pulsatile tinnitus and ear clicking presentations.
Quick Symptom Check
These questions help us provide relevant guidance. Your answers are not stored or transmitted -- all processing happens in your browser.
1. When did this sound start?
2. Does the sound sync with your heartbeat?
3. Is the sound in one ear or both?
4. Do you have any of these associated symptoms? (check all that apply)
5. Have you seen a doctor about this sound?
Pulsatile Tinnitus Presets
Ear Clicking Presets
Saved Profiles
No saved profiles yet. Use the "Save Profile" button after adjusting sounds to your liking.
Share This With Your Doctor
Your matched sound profile can help your doctor understand exactly what you are hearing. You can export your settings and bring them to your appointment.
When to seek medical evaluation:
- Your pulsatile tinnitus is new (started within the past few weeks)
- It is only in one ear
- It is getting louder or more frequent
- You also have headaches, vision changes, or dizziness
What kind of doctor to see: An ENT (otolaryngologist) is usually the first specialist to evaluate pulsatile tinnitus. They may order imaging such as an MRI/MRA, CT angiography, or ultrasound of the neck arteries.
What Is Pulsatile Tinnitus?
Pulsatile tinnitus is a rhythmic sound perceived in one or both ears that typically synchronizes with the heartbeat. Unlike the steady ringing, buzzing, or hissing of tonal tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus has a distinct temporal pattern. Patients commonly describe it as a whooshing, thumping, pulsing, or rushing sound that keeps time with their pulse.
The key difference is that tonal tinnitus is a phantom sound generated by the nervous system, while pulsatile tinnitus usually has a physical, identifiable sound source -- most often turbulent blood flow near the ear. This makes pulsatile tinnitus fundamentally different in both its causes and its clinical significance. Approximately 10% of people with tinnitus experience pulsatile symptoms.
Common Causes of Pulsatile Tinnitus
Because pulsatile tinnitus often originates from blood flow, its causes are frequently vascular:
- Atherosclerosis: Narrowing of the carotid artery or its branches near the ear, creating turbulent blood flow.
- High blood pressure: Increased force of blood flow can make the sound of blood moving through vessels near the ear audible.
- Arteriovenous malformations: Abnormal connections between arteries and veins near the ear creating high-velocity turbulent flow.
- Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH): Elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure causing venous sinus changes and turbulent flow.
- Glomus tumors: Highly vascular benign tumors of the middle ear or jugular bulb.
- Middle ear myoclonus: Involuntary rhythmic contractions of the muscles in the middle ear.
Pulsatile Tinnitus vs. Regular Tinnitus
Regular (tonal) tinnitus produces a constant ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound and is typically caused by hearing loss or neural changes. In contrast, pulsatile tinnitus produces a rhythmic sound and is more likely to have an identifiable, potentially treatable physical cause. AudioNotch's notched sound therapy is designed for tonal tinnitus. For pulsatile tinnitus, the priority is identifying and treating the underlying cause through medical evaluation.
What Is Ear Clicking?
Ear clicking refers to repetitive clicking, popping, or crackling sounds perceived in the ear. These sounds are typically caused by involuntary contractions of the middle ear muscles, Eustachian tube dysfunction, or palatal myoclonus.
- Middle ear myoclonus: Rhythmic clicking from involuntary contractions of the tensor tympani or stapedius muscles.
- Eustachian tube dysfunction: Clicking or popping when swallowing, yawning, or with jaw movement.
- Palatal myoclonus: Rhythmic clicking from palatal muscle spasm, often audible to others.
- TMJ disorders: Clicking associated with jaw movement, not true tinnitus but frequently reported as ear clicking.
If ear clicking is persistent, worsening, or accompanied by hearing loss, a visit to an ENT specialist is recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pulsatile tinnitus is different from regular tinnitus because it often has an identifiable physical cause. While many causes are benign, some can indicate conditions that benefit from treatment. We recommend that anyone with pulsatile tinnitus discuss it with their doctor, especially if it is a new symptom or accompanied by headaches, vision changes, or dizziness.
Some cases resolve on their own, particularly those related to temporary conditions like ear infections, stress, or high blood pressure. However, because pulsatile tinnitus can sometimes indicate an underlying condition, it is best to have it evaluated by a healthcare professional.
It is commonly described as a whooshing, thumping, rushing, or pulsing sound that keeps time with your heartbeat. Some people describe it as hearing their heartbeat in their ear. Our sound generator above lets you recreate and match these sounds to help describe your symptoms to a doctor.
Ear clicking can have several causes including middle ear myoclonus, Eustachian tube dysfunction, tensor tympani syndrome, or palatal myoclonus. If clicking is persistent or bothersome, an ENT specialist can help determine the cause.
Yes. Unlike constant ringing tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus often has a specific, identifiable cause that may be treatable. This is especially important if the symptom is new, only in one ear, getting worse, or accompanied by headaches, vision changes, or dizziness. An ENT specialist is typically the best first doctor to see.
Medical Disclaimer
This tool is provided for educational and sound-matching purposes only. It is not a diagnostic tool and cannot identify the cause of your tinnitus.
Important: Pulsatile tinnitus can be a symptom of underlying medical conditions, some of which require treatment. Unlike constant ringing tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus often has an identifiable and treatable cause. We strongly recommend that anyone experiencing pulsatile tinnitus consult with a healthcare professional, particularly an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist.
AudioNotch does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information and tools on this page are not a substitute for professional medical evaluation.
Do you also hear a constant ringing or buzzing?
AudioNotch's notched sound therapy is designed to treat steady tonal tinnitus. If you experience both pulsatile and tonal tinnitus, our therapy tools may help with the tonal component.
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