Pulse-linked clicking in ears

For several years I’ve been occasionally hearing a heartbeat-linked noise in my ears that begins shortly after lying down on my back in a recliner or propped on pillows in bed. (It's position, not quiet, that brings it on.)

It’s NOT the rushing “whoosh” of pulse that you hear when, e.g., lying on one ear. It’s a distinct clicking, "dripping," or tapping kind of sound. Definitely in time to my pulse, although the sound starts and stops erratically even though my pulse continues pretty regularly. I seem to hear it in both ears equally. Usually the whole thing stops within five or ten minutes at most.

Sometimes there’ll be a kind of double sound, a click followed quickly by a “smoosh,” but whether a double or single sound, it stays in time with my pulse.

On two or three occasions (thus rare) it was REALLY loud, like a LOUD clock in the room, no kidding. It got very loud when I shifted position slightly.

At first I was CERTAIN this sound was coming from outside my head—I kept thinking it was the gutters dripping—then when I eventually figured out it was pulse-linked, I thought I was hearing the sound via air conduction. However, plugging my ears with my fingers does not lessen the sound, so I must be hearing it via bone conduction?

I am female, 51, 50 lbs overweight, no chest pain or shortness of breath, etc. I had a (presumably) normal pre-op EKG in July before Baha surgery. I had severe/profound high-frequency SSNHL on left in 1999 when I sneezed, normal hearing on right, chronic mild dizziness, but middle ears have NEVER had any problems except wax. This sound is NOT like any tinnitus I’ve ever experienced or heard about.

Someone (not a doctor) said this could be something related to my Eustachian tubes. Is this true? What does it sound like to you?

Thanks much for any info!

Nancy T.

[Vivek V Gurudutt, MD]

Eustacian tube dysfunction can cause clicking sounds as the tube opens and closes.  Obviously, variant types of tinnitus can cause atypical sounds.  With your history of hearing loss and baha placement, you should definitely discuss this further with your otologist.  Pulsatile tinnitus always raises concern of a vascular cause.  An exam of your ears would be helpful along with a view of the back of your nose to rule out any obstruction of the openings of your eustacian tubes.  Best wishes.

[Nancy T]

P.S. An internist told me 8 years ago (years before the clicking started) that I had the faintest of heart murmurs (1/6, I think?), but no doctor has ever mentioned this since, not even during the ENT and anesthesiologist pre-op checkups this past July when they listened to my heart.

[Nancy T]

Thanks, Dr. Gurudutt. I know there can be clicking from the Eustachian tubes, but I'd never heard it could be connected to your pulse, or your position.

I have had so many bizarre unexplained things happen with my ears and face, etc. over the years that I now hesitate to actually go to the doctors with these curiosities that don't cause me problems ... but if there's time at my Baha follow-up, I'll ask the surgeon if she thinks I should make an appointment for it. (This began years before the Baha surgery, which was just two months ago.)

Thanks again for your comments; I appreciate your answering questions on this forum!

Nancy T.