Do you hear some disturbing ringing sound on  your ears? It could be pulsatile tinnitus. Here are some tests to determine whether what you are experiencing is indeed pulsatile tinnitus.

You can perform a gentle pressure on you neck to block the jugular vein but not the carotid artery. The Valsalva maneuver reduces venous return by increasing intrathoracic pressure. If there is a venous hum, this usually abates or improves markedly. If the pulsatile tinnitus pulsation is arterial, these tests have no effects.

MRI/MRA or CT is often suggested in younger patients with unilateral pulsatile tinnitus. In older patients, pulsatile tinnitus is often due to atherosclerotic disease and it is less important to get an MRI/MRA.

In some cases of Pulsatile Tinnitus a lumbar puncture may be considered if there is a possibility of benign intracranial hypertension.

More invasive pulsatile tinnitus testing includes the “balloon occlusion test”, where a balloon is blown up in the internal jugular vein to see if it eliminates pulsatile tinnitus.