Thumping in right ear, only triggered by sound

Posted by mdrake2020 @mdrake2020, Jan 11, 2020

This is a strange problem and difficult to explain so please bear with me here. This has been happening for almost 2 years now.

If both of my ears are completely exposed, 90% of the time I have no issues. Hearing is even on both ears. The other 10% of the time, certain midrange frequencies cause my right ear to thump along with the sound and usually only when they're pretty loud.

Now the main issue is that 100% of the time, if my right ear is partially covered for whatever reason (let's say I'm laying down on my side and part of it is covered, if I wear a hooded shirt over my head, or even if I put my hand over my right ear slightly), the thumping happens along with the sound. So let's say someone speaks a 4 syllable word, I'll get a thump with each syllable. Or if I'm hearing footsteps, each footstep causes a thump. This seems to happen along all frequencies (except maybe the very high ones). The weird thing is the thumping doesn't happen if I completely seal my LEFT ear. It'll only happen if my left ear is completely exposed and my right ear partially covered. It doesn't even have to be covered all the way. I can put my hand about 5 inches away from my ear and it'll trigger this problem.

I unfortunately can't afford to go to a ENT right now so I'm hoping someone has an idea about what's going on here. One thing probably worth mentioning is I've had acid reflux for 4 years. I actually went to an ENT because of pain all on my right side....my ear, throat, neck and head. He did an endoscopy but said he didn't see anything there to worry about, and thought acid reflux is causing my pain so he prescribed me some Ranitidine which I've been taking since then (just stopped a few months ago though). It did definitely help the ear pain when I began taking it but I did still have reflux episodes probably once a month throughout the 4 years. I'm thinking maybe this has caused some ear damage but I'm really not sure.

I appreciate any help I can get.

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@mynamefred10

Since half a year ago I have had a strange thing happen where a random thump will happen at random times in my ear. It is usually only one, but sometimes more happen. It usually happens after a shower, but it can also happen randomly throughout the day, and some days it doesn’t happen at all. I think it might be tinnitus because I also have a ringing in both ears sometimes, but I’m not sure.

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Hi @mynamefred10, thumping in one ear is a topic often discussed. You'll noticed that I moved your question about a random thump at random times to this existing discussion so you can connect with @mickyc @mdrake2020 @prr1117 @catidyd @marsh26 and others. Click the link below to read their stories.
– Thumping in right ear, only triggered by sound https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/thumping-in-right-ear-only-triggered-by-sound/

You may also be interested in these related discussions:
– Thumping/drumming in one ear https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/thumpingdrumming-in-right-ear/
– rapid thumping sound in left ear: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/rapid-thumping-sound-in-left-ear/
– Pulsatile tinnitus https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pulsatile-tinnitus-1mynamefred10

Fred, have you been to see an ENT specialist?

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@colleenyoung

Hi @mynamefred10, thumping in one ear is a topic often discussed. You'll noticed that I moved your question about a random thump at random times to this existing discussion so you can connect with @mickyc @mdrake2020 @prr1117 @catidyd @marsh26 and others. Click the link below to read their stories.
– Thumping in right ear, only triggered by sound https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/thumping-in-right-ear-only-triggered-by-sound/

You may also be interested in these related discussions:
– Thumping/drumming in one ear https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/thumpingdrumming-in-right-ear/
– rapid thumping sound in left ear: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/rapid-thumping-sound-in-left-ear/
– Pulsatile tinnitus https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pulsatile-tinnitus-1mynamefred10

Fred, have you been to see an ENT specialist?

Jump to this post

Yes, one time in October of last year. It was around two months after it started, and I also felt something in my ear. The doctor said that my ears were perfectly normal except for some fluid in my left ear, and that the fluid would go away in around nine weeks. The feeling that something was in there went away, but the thumping didn’t.

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@mynamefred10

Yes, one time in October of last year. It was around two months after it started, and I also felt something in my ear. The doctor said that my ears were perfectly normal except for some fluid in my left ear, and that the fluid would go away in around nine weeks. The feeling that something was in there went away, but the thumping didn’t.

Jump to this post

It sounds like it might be time for a follow-up visit.

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I’ve had the same thing going on for at least 6 years, but my thumping happens in the opposite ear that the noise is on. So if I have my left ear facing the tv, a speaker, or there’s a person talking on my left side, I feel the syllables in my right ear. It’s worse at some times than others. Hearing has been determined to be normal, and now I’m working with an ENT. Next step is a CT scan.

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I have this exact same thing have had it for about 5 years.

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@xoiexoie

I have this exact same thing have had it for about 5 years.

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Welcome @xoiexoie, I'm not sure if you have seen the post by @colleenyoung earlier in this discussion here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/289648/.

Have you seen an ENT about your symptoms?

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@mdrake2020

Hi Colleen,

I did come across "pulsatile tinnitus" before I made this post but I believe I read that it happens along with your pulse. That's definitely not what happens in my case. The description of the "thump" does sound the same as mine but again, mine only happens along with sound. It happens the most with every slight spike in sound and the easiest way to describe it is that any syllable from a sentence triggers the thump.

It did suddenly begin 2 years ago, and the only change since then is it's a little bit more sensitive now.

Jump to this post

I have had this same exact issue and it's so hard to find any information on it! Your post is the only thing I've seen that describes my experience. It's not my heart, it's only with "pops" of noise (like on syllables, as you've described) and oddly - it seems to be mostly affected when the sound is coming from my phone, specifically. I could be playing a podcast or listening to music from the phone without earphones and I get the thumping in my left ear. It's extremely annoying as I hate having my earphones in all the time but i enjoy listening to podcasts when I am doing things around the house. Did you ever discover what the phenomenon was?

REPLY

You might consider changing your reflux medication. I used to take ranitidine but after awhile it stopped working. Then I switched to Nexium and later to Prevacid. The latter is the best for me. Also try raising the head of your bed by putting a couple of bricks under the frame. It’s important that your upper body be raised, not just your head. This is to help with reflux, not the thumping in your ear.

I also had the thumping especially when a lower pitched voice was speaking and especially when several syllables were involved. Not positive the cause but pretty sure it had to do with a blockage caused by an ear infection not reflux. Wish I could provide you with more clues but the ear is not the easiest thing to,decipher. I have several auditory problems like tinnitus for one where there is no answer to date.

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Hi! I just read the original post, and this is the first time that I've heard of anyone else experiencing the thumping that I experience. My right ear thumping is caused by certain sounds, but for me, it can happen when the ear is completely open, covered, or even stopped up. It's only when I close my left ear that the thumping stops. I've been to a couple ENTs, and we haven't figured anything out yet. I don't have any hearing loss.

This has been happening to me for my entire life. I'm glad to know I'm not alone in this.

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Hi. I've been experiencing a thumping sound and the feeling of almost a pulsing sensation in my right ear. This has been going on for years. Maybe 10 years or so. The thumping and the pulsing sensation only occurs when I'm hearing mid and low range sounds - most commonly someone speaking. The thumping is in time with the speaker's words. If I cover my left ear, the thumping stops. The sensation doesn't occur when listening to music or when hearing voices in higher ranges.

I've gone to two ENTs and several audiologists about the problem and none of them have an answer. The ENTs both sort of shrugged it off. and dismissed the problem. I don't have any hearing loss and have had no injuries to speak of in recent years.

I do not beliebe this is pulsatile tinnitus as I'm not hearing my pulse or heartbeat in my ears and there's no "whooshing" sound as I've heard pulsatile tinnitus described.

Has anyone else had this problem? Has a doctor been able to diagnose it? Has anyone found a remedy for the problem? I'm sure I'm not alone, but I can't seem to find much online about this strange issue.

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