Child w/ Pulsatile Tinnitus?

[Mike C.]

Hello all, I've had a tinnitus for about 16 years now and for the most part it hasn't impacted me that much. About a year ago I had a really bad spike and just now it is starting to come down to where it was with the addition of a new cicada sound. Anyway, I'm doing a lot better today than a year ago. But, over the last week I've started to realize my worst fear. I have a 4 year old little girl who is as sweet and friendly as can be. I'm also nervous about her ears because after this last year tinnitus is the last thing I want for her. A few days ago I saw her tugging on her ear and I asked if she was ok. She said she was but I asked do you hear anything in your ears? I've asked her that before and she always said "no" but this time she said "yes". I asked what she hears and she said it's like "beep, beep, beep". Then she says I always hear it and it's "ok" and that she only really hears it when she tries to sleep (she is a good sleeper) and reads a book. I tried not to make a big deal about it because if she is "ok" I don't want to bring any attention to it and have her worry about it. Also, I wasn't sure if she really had it or just heard me talking about it before. Fast forward a week and tonight someone yelled in the room and I saw here put her fingers in her ears. I asked if her ears hurt and she said "no". I asked if she still heard the "beep, beep, beep" and she said "yes and it will be forever". She then told me that it isn't that loud and nobody can hear it but her. My stomach dropped! She truly is an amazingly sweet girl and very active and her teachers say she really does not have any problems when it comes to focusing. I don't want this to have a negative impact on her life. Have any of you ever had or known of a child with Pulsatile Tinnitus? Could this be something she grows out of? This appears to be effecting me more than her so should I just let it go and hope it never gets to the point where it bothers here?

 

[glynis]

I would get some literature off the British Tinnitus Association and they do a great booklet /book for children for tinnitus and its so lovely and lovely pictures illustrated for children and worded for their age too and highly recommend it....lots of love glynis

 

[Karen]

Hi, Mike,

I agree with Glynis's suggestion about looking for information for children on the British Tinnitus Association website. I hope your little girl is doing OK today.

Based on what you've said about the noise she hears, I really doubt that it's pulsatile tinnitus. Pulsatile tinnitus is more of whoosing or, in my case, a drumbeat sound. I think it's more likely that she has regular tinnitus, which could have been brought on by ear infections or other ear problems.

Please do keep us posted on how she is doing, and I hope that things remain stable for her.

Best wishes,
Karen

 

[Jae]

I think I had Pulsatile Tinnitus when I was younger. It only happens when my heart beat is off the roof, and it sounds like a rumble that beats with my heart. I actually didn't even know it was actually a form of Tinnitus, but as time went by it vanish. I don't know why, but I haven't felt it for years.

 

[Mike C.]

Thank you everyone for your comments. I will check out the BTA website. I wrote "beep,beep,beep" but she told my wife it is more of a "chi_chi_chi" sound. I hope this is something that hades away.

 

[John G]

Aren't kids really prone to ear infections?. It wouldn't hurt just going to the doctor for a quick check-up. I am sure things will turn out fine.

 

[Mike C.]

I'm pretty sure my little girl (4 year old) has pulsatile tinnitus she has explained it to me a few times over the last month. She calls it a clap but said that it sounds like shhh----shhh----shhh which I think is her heart rate. She also said that after she plays it changes. I'm assuming that is because her heart rate has increased. She said it is NOT loud but it just goes "on and on and on" and I tried to record it with my phone one night when she was sleeping and i didn't hear anything. 1. Do you think this is something she'll grow out of? 2. I haven't taken her to the doctors yet because I'm trying not to freak her out as she seems to be coping fine. If I do take her to the doctors should I got to the GP or find an ENT or is there a different type of Dr. that is better for pulsatile tinnitus as from I've read about it there isn't anything wrong with her ears.

Any help is appreciated. I have good old tone tinnitus and my nightmare is that she has to go through life with this annoyance as well.

 

[AnxiousJon]

1. Do you think this is something she'll grow out of? 2. I haven't taken her to the doctors yet because I'm trying not to freak her out as she seems to be coping fine. If I do take her to the doctors should I got to the GP or find an ENT or is there a different type of Dr. that is better for pulsatile tinnitus as from I've read about it there isn't anything wrong with her ears.

She needs a medical examination for sure. ENT is the one that deals with pulsatile tinnitus; and if they are reputable and have have a long carrer, they have probably dealt with it plenty. They know how to listen for it properly. Once diagnosed, she may need further testing, as it can be caused by a tumor in a blood vessel or other cardiovascular condition, which in some rare cases can be life-threatening. This also interfaces with your other concern:

I have good old tone tinnitus and my nightmare is that she has to go through life with this annoyance as well.

There are treatable causes of pulsatile tinnitus, which means it would be gone if treated. I am guessing something like this could change and get better as she grows, but it's best not to leave this to the passage of time, but rather see a knowledgeable physician.

 

[Karen]

I agree with AnxiousJohn, except that I had a bad experience with an ENT more than once. They tried to brush me off when I asked for help with pulsatile tinnitus. If you have a doctor that you know is good, and will listen, then an ENT is fine. If not, I'd suggest a neurologist or neurotologist, who might have more time to spend with you exploring possible causes.

Also, you might want to look at Whooshers.com, the website for people with pulsatile tinnitus. There, you'll find some printable information that you can take along with you when you go to the doctor, regarding pulsatile tinnitus. It lists some of the more common possible causes of PT, and general information for your doctor.

Good luck, and I hope you'll let us know what you find out, if you do decide to take her for an examination.

Best wishes,
Karen

 

[Anja]

My son is 4 years old now and I heard his pulsing ringing in his ears before he could explain that he had it. All I had to do is lay right next to him with my ear close to his and I could hear the sound. It is a high pitched pulsing sound. I took him to the doctor and they acted like I was crazy. They tested his hearing and everything was fine but that was the end of it. They sent me home with the knowledge that they did not know. It has been a year since our appointment and my son has told me on many occasions that he can hear this sound in his ears which make it hard for him to fall asleep at night or it will wake him even up. I don't know how to help him! I wonder if I should go see another doctor and just get it tested again. My son says that this sound only comes when he lays down.

 

[Karen]

Hi, Anja,

Yes, I definitely think you should take him to another doctor to be tested. If you went to a general practitioner or pediatrician, the chances are that they don't know much about pulsatile tinnitus. My suggestion would be to take him to a specialist, such as a neurologist, or neurotologist, or at least an ENT to begin with. They could check him, and see if they think it warrants further testing. It sounds like he could have objective tinnitus (other people can hear the sound), and if that is the case, I believe they would be more likely to find a cause than otherwise.

Good luck, and please let us know what the other doctor says about your son's pulsatile tinnitus.

Best wishes,
Karen

 

[Carlie Jackson]

Hi,
I was diagnosed with Pulsatile tinitus in 2009 when I was 7. It started off with was a "beep beep beep" noise that came in rythum with my hearbeat. I think now you should definitely get her checked by a doctor because this has taken a BIG negative impact on my life. If She starts saying it sounds like marching then it is most likely to be pulsatile. Hope all is well

 

[Scared111]

Hi,
I was diagnosed with Pulsatile tinitus in 2009 when I was 7. It started off with was a "beep beep beep" noise that came in rythum with my hearbeat. I think now you should definitely get her checked by a doctor because this has taken a BIG negative impact on my life. If She starts saying it sounds like marching then it is most likely to be pulsatile. Hope all is well

how old are u now? and you
lived with it all this time or u were able to find a cause and get it fixed?