rapid thumping sound in left ear

Posted by cinnamon @cinnamon, Apr 22, 2012

rapid thumping sound in left ear

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I noticed when I close my mouth (jaw) thumping gets louder and faster. When I open my jaw it goes away.

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For the past 24 hours, I've been having the spastic thumbing in my ear. It doesn't match my heart beat either. It's very random, but it seems to happen every 3-6 seconds and lasts about 5-10 seconds. What could this be?

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It most happens if I give even a little burp but can come on anytime. Can someone tell me what could be the issue?

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Hi @redmonarch8 and @edfrombk,

Welcome to Connect. It seems that this kind of thumping in the ear could be pulsatile tinnitus ”due to a change in blood flow in the vessels near the ear or to a change in awareness of that blood flow.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tinnitus/symptoms-causes/syc-20350156

In some cases of pulsatile tinnitus a rhythmical sound is experienced, but the sound is not synchronized with the person’s heart beat, (as @redmonarch8 explained).This type of tinnitus is most commonly due to rhythmical contraction of the muscles in the middle ear. https://www.tinnitus.org.uk/pulsatile-tinnitus

I’m tagging @beatricefay @morningglory @lizm2 @tlcnurse1 to bring them into this conversation as they’ve written about similar symptoms in another discussion, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pulsatile-tinnitus-1/

Does the thumping occur throughout the day, or only at certain times? Does it disturb your sleep at night?

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I find the thumping, swishing noise in my one ear maddening. I try very hard to relax when it starts and try to focus on reading material and sometimes that seems to help. I'm hoping to have further testing done when I return to Mayo in the future. I don't think it is connected to my Meniere's diagnosis because I remember the first time the noise ever happened and it was about 50 years ago! Disappeared for eons then started again years later with additional frequency. Am sorry that I have no answer for you but I can certainly understand your dismay.

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@kanaazpereira

Hi @redmonarch8 and @edfrombk,

Welcome to Connect. It seems that this kind of thumping in the ear could be pulsatile tinnitus ”due to a change in blood flow in the vessels near the ear or to a change in awareness of that blood flow.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tinnitus/symptoms-causes/syc-20350156

In some cases of pulsatile tinnitus a rhythmical sound is experienced, but the sound is not synchronized with the person’s heart beat, (as @redmonarch8 explained).This type of tinnitus is most commonly due to rhythmical contraction of the muscles in the middle ear. https://www.tinnitus.org.uk/pulsatile-tinnitus

I’m tagging @beatricefay @morningglory @lizm2 @tlcnurse1 to bring them into this conversation as they’ve written about similar symptoms in another discussion, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pulsatile-tinnitus-1/

Does the thumping occur throughout the day, or only at certain times? Does it disturb your sleep at night?

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@kanaazpereira Thank you for your reply. I went to ENT did the hearing test and got all the positive results. Next step I was told is MRI. I was wondering is there a fix to it ? It’s random for, during a night time or when I give a little burp.

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@cmerow

I have noticed the same thing, i have to burp but cant seem to get it all out and i get a rapid pulse in my right ear. I have also noticed my right eye is seeming to get blurry over the past few months

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You might want to see a neurologist or an eye doctor. Preasure might on the optic nerve.

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Hello. I have been experiencing a thumping noice in my right ear in exact synchrony with music or people talking only when I’m lying down and falling asleep. It’s never in time with my heartbeat but always in time with voices or music. What can this be?

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@gregk

About 2 weeks ago I noticed the same thing in my right ear. I hear it more when I just wake up. It’s isolated in my right ear. It’s not rhythmic, more sporadic and fast so it’s not linked to my pulse. When I fully plug my ear it goes away, maybe because of the pressure.

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It sounds like I have the same thing going on. Feels as if there’s water in my ears and someone is constantly (fast and sporadic) tapping my head. Like a small popping constantly in my right ear. It does not match my heart at all and is not rhythmic. I can’t find any relief. Any suggestions for at home relief anyone??

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@gregk

About 2 weeks ago I noticed the same thing in my right ear. I hear it more when I just wake up. It’s isolated in my right ear. It’s not rhythmic, more sporadic and fast so it’s not linked to my pulse. When I fully plug my ear it goes away, maybe because of the pressure.

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@gregk I think I’ve been experiencing the same thing. I get a fast, sporadic thumping/tapping in my right ear only that can last for hours. Very fast, very distracting. Almost sounds like when you have water in your ear and you tap your head. Does not match my heartbeat at all. And stops when I completely close/plug my ear. I can’t sleep or focus on anything when it’s happening which is very often lately. I’ve been trying some wax clearing drops and flushing with warm water to see if it will improve and also magnesium supplements. But please, if you or anyone else have any ideas or suggestions for at home relief, how to stop it or what it is, please let me know!! Thank you!

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