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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Persistent Drumming Sensation In The Head?

My 90-year-old mother is complaining of insistent drumming in her head. That s what she calls it. It s a low boom that is sometimes steady, but comes and goes. It s been happening for two days. It s in her hearing. The boom-boom starts, she gets a headache, she takes Naproxin, it subsides and then comes back.
Mon, 2 Jan 2017
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Cardiologist,  's  Response
Hello and welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service.

I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.

The problem you are having is called migraine with aura, most likely the feeling of drumming in head is because of tinnitus in ear which can be aura of migraine. Tinnitus is an objective sound and some time patient feels as if its coming from inner ear or is buzzing in head.

You have not mentioned if headache is unilateral or bilateral, if it is unilateral it can be migraine with aura. Migraines with aura account for about a quarter of all migraines. Please mention if it is associated with any of the following symptoms:

- Blind spots (scotomas)
- Vision loss in part of one or both eyes
- Seeing zigzag patterns (fortification spectra)
- Seeing flashing lights (scintilla)
- Seeing, hearing, or smelling things that aren't really there (hallucinations)
- Prickling, tingling, or numbness (paresthesia)

It can be because of involvement of ear or because of involvement of brain few base line investigations are advised by me are:

- MRI brain
- Pure tone audiometry of ear

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Rishu Saxena
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What Causes Persistent Drumming Sensation In The Head?

Hello and welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. The problem you are having is called migraine with aura, most likely the feeling of drumming in head is because of tinnitus in ear which can be aura of migraine. Tinnitus is an objective sound and some time patient feels as if its coming from inner ear or is buzzing in head. You have not mentioned if headache is unilateral or bilateral, if it is unilateral it can be migraine with aura. Migraines with aura account for about a quarter of all migraines. Please mention if it is associated with any of the following symptoms: - Blind spots (scotomas) - Vision loss in part of one or both eyes - Seeing zigzag patterns (fortification spectra) - Seeing flashing lights (scintilla) - Seeing, hearing, or smelling things that aren t really there (hallucinations) - Prickling, tingling, or numbness (paresthesia) It can be because of involvement of ear or because of involvement of brain few base line investigations are advised by me are: - MRI brain - Pure tone audiometry of ear Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Rishu Saxena