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What Causes Pulsating Sensations In Ears While Hearing Loud Sounds?
Question: Hi!
What could be causing pulsation sensation in the ears while hearing relatively loud sounds?
It first happened to me about a month or 3 weeks ago. My cell phone's volume was high, and when I started having one conversation, it started pulsating inside my ear whenever the other person was speaking, just like a loudspeaker thumps and pulsates in rhythm with the music. It happened again in a few days, again during a phone call. This time I lowered the volume and pulsation stopped. It hadn't occurred for a couple of weeks until today. I would listen to loud music in the car (even yesterday) - no problem. But today we were visiting my mother-in-law, who has a high-pitched voice and who tends to speak much louder than usual when talking directly to my 1-year-old baby. Every loud syllable that she produced resulted in a thumping throb in my ears. I had to leave the room. Happened again in a couple of hours. What is happening with my ears and what should I do?
I am a 34-year-old male, haven't had any problems with ears or hearing before.
Thanks!
What could be causing pulsation sensation in the ears while hearing relatively loud sounds?
It first happened to me about a month or 3 weeks ago. My cell phone's volume was high, and when I started having one conversation, it started pulsating inside my ear whenever the other person was speaking, just like a loudspeaker thumps and pulsates in rhythm with the music. It happened again in a few days, again during a phone call. This time I lowered the volume and pulsation stopped. It hadn't occurred for a couple of weeks until today. I would listen to loud music in the car (even yesterday) - no problem. But today we were visiting my mother-in-law, who has a high-pitched voice and who tends to speak much louder than usual when talking directly to my 1-year-old baby. Every loud syllable that she produced resulted in a thumping throb in my ears. I had to leave the room. Happened again in a couple of hours. What is happening with my ears and what should I do?
I am a 34-year-old male, haven't had any problems with ears or hearing before.
Thanks!
Brief Answer:
can be because of inner ear damage
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for the query.
Discomfort with loud sound exposure and pulsating sound in an otherwise normal ear is usually due to damage to inner ear because of loud sound.
When a sound strikes the ear drum, the drum vibrates and this results in movement of ossicles which are attached to ear drum in chain like fashion. When the third ossicle (stapes) moves the mechanical energy is transmitted to inner ear fluid. When this fluid moves, the hair present there move and this is further transmitted as a signal through nerve in to brain and we appreciate sound.
When there is uncontrolled vibration due to loud sound, the controlled transmission of energy from outside to inner ear and brain becomes uncontrolled and this damge caused can result in loss of appreciation of voice or discomfort due to loud sound.
This damage is reversible initially but can become permanent if the exposure to loud sound is repeated and remedial measures are not taken.
The remedial measures are ENT examination, avoiding further exposure, B complex and sometimes steroids.
But these things are to be decided by an ENT and an audiometry may be required with recruitment testing.
Please avoid further exposure to loud sound and see an ENT early.
Feel free to ask another query.
Regards
can be because of inner ear damage
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for the query.
Discomfort with loud sound exposure and pulsating sound in an otherwise normal ear is usually due to damage to inner ear because of loud sound.
When a sound strikes the ear drum, the drum vibrates and this results in movement of ossicles which are attached to ear drum in chain like fashion. When the third ossicle (stapes) moves the mechanical energy is transmitted to inner ear fluid. When this fluid moves, the hair present there move and this is further transmitted as a signal through nerve in to brain and we appreciate sound.
When there is uncontrolled vibration due to loud sound, the controlled transmission of energy from outside to inner ear and brain becomes uncontrolled and this damge caused can result in loss of appreciation of voice or discomfort due to loud sound.
This damage is reversible initially but can become permanent if the exposure to loud sound is repeated and remedial measures are not taken.
The remedial measures are ENT examination, avoiding further exposure, B complex and sometimes steroids.
But these things are to be decided by an ENT and an audiometry may be required with recruitment testing.
Please avoid further exposure to loud sound and see an ENT early.
Feel free to ask another query.
Regards
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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