The Pulsatile Tinnitus Foundation, Inc. (PTF) is a registered public charity under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3). 

PTF collects, manages and shares information about pulsatile tinnitus, a relatively rare symptom described as a rhythmic sound that is in sync with the heartbeat or pulse. 

While the underlying causes of pulsatile tinnitus cross over a number of various medical specialties, the majority of them are identifiable and treatable. Indeed, some causes are lethal if not addressed quickly, and pulsatile tinnitus may be the sole underlying symptom. However, pulsatile tinnitus is often incorrectly referred to and often diagnosed as “tinnitus,” for which an entirely different medical workup is warranted. 

PTF provides support, via social networking platforms, collections of medical reports, and databases of medical professionals familiar with pulsatile tinnitus cases, to educate patients and the medical community. 

We connect patients to doctors, and doctors to their colleagues, each a crucial component of treatment, since pulsatile tinnitus merits a multi-disciplinary approach. 

We support the medical community devoted to pulsatile tinnitus studies.

We advocate for increased awareness, in monthly awareness campaigns and others.

We facilitate patient support meetings across the United States and worldwide. We monitor trends in algorithmic recommendations for diagnostic imaging.

We encourage and enable patients to be their best advocates, equipping them with information to share with their doctors, who may have never seen a patient with this symptom in their practice. 

We use technology to support patients’ experiences with a rare symptom – sharing how it impacts daily life – and to educate medical professionals with limited training to identify pulsatile tinnitus causes and the complex workup warranted by the symptom.