Can TMJ Cause Hearing Loss?

It is not surprising that you would correctly guess something might be wrong with your jaw if you are experiencing symptoms like pain or swelling in the jaw, popping noises when you chew or yawn, or locking occasionally. These are all telltale signs of TMJ disorder. 

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you must seek a TMJ specialist as soon as possible.

Exposure to overly loud noise or getting older is two common factors that might lead to hearing loss. The tensor palatini muscle (a broad, thin, ribbon-like muscle in the head that tenses the soft palate) pulls on the eardrum to shield it from all noises.

You might not be aware that if you have issues with your jaw, it might also damage your hearing. The joint that joins your jawbone to your skull is placed extremely close to your ears, despite the fact that you may not relate your jaws with your ability to hear. Pain in the jaw joints, trouble eating, and locking of the joints are all symptoms that can be caused by the TMJ condition. In certain instances, TMJ problems can result in hearing loss.

Because TMJ dysfunction is not an obvious cause of hearing loss, many people deal with this issue without understanding the cause until a specialist tells them. Please keep reading to learn more about temporomandibular joint dysfunction and its relationship to hearing loss.

TMD Signs and Symptoms

Most of the time, discomfort and acute pain on one or both sides of the face are the first obvious indicators of a problem with the body. The discomfort is typically triggered when the mouth is opened widely, such as when speaking, chewing, yawning, or performing any number of other duties. It is also typical to get the sensation that your jaw is stuck or locked in either the open or closed-mouth position.

It is also common to get the sensation that your jaw is stuck or locked in either the open or closed-mouth position. It’s possible that hearing the sounds won’t always be painful, but there are occasions when soreness and pain can be felt in the neck and shoulders, up into the area of the jaw joint, around the facial muscles, and in or around the ear. Another common symptom is restricted mouth opening.

Hearing loss caused by TMJ disorder may include the following symptoms:

• Hearing is muffled/decreased
• Ear ringing (tinnitus)
• Pain in the ear
• Ear fullness
• If your jaw moves, you may hear a clicking or popping sound
• Facial Pain

You may most likely also experience additional symptoms, such as discomfort in the jaw, headaches, difficulty chewing, face pain, disorientation, and pain or stiffness in the neck or shoulders. 

The severity of your TMJ condition may determine the degree to which you have lost your hearing. According to the findings of one study, individuals who exhibited the greatest symptoms, such as jaw stiffness, were more likely to have issues with their hearing.

TMJ Disorder-related Hearing Loss Symptoms

A dysfunction in the jaw can impact your hearing since the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is located adjacent to the middle ear. It is possible that pressure or inflammation caused by the TMJ can have an effect on the nerves and muscles in the area, which can then lead to a blockage of the eustachian tubes.

The inability of the eustachian tubes to drain fluid from the middle ear might result in tinnitus or hearing difficulties.

How TMJ Affects Ear Issues

Some patients have ear pain, tinnitus, and even hearing loss as a result of problems with their temporomandibular joints (TMJ). The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is found close to your ear and serves as the connection between your skull and lower jaw. Due to the position of the TMJ, problems with it might cause discomfort not only in your jaw but also in the areas immediately surrounding it, including in your ears. In addition, there is a link between the degree of mouth opening and the frequency of aural symptoms, and TMD severity.

According to a study, the presence of structures connecting the middle ear to the temporomandibular joint and the shared innervation of the masticatory muscles explains why 85% of TMD patients experience aural symptoms.

It should come as no surprise to anybody that the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is intimately connected to the ear and can contribute to conditions that affect this extremely sensitive organ. Ear discomfort is a common symptom of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD), which can last for a considerable amount of time in certain patients. They may go to an ear specialist who assures them that their ears are healthy, but the specialist will ultimately point the finger at allergies or urge them to live with the condition without providing a reason.

However, ear pains, despite the fact that they are typically highly uncomfortable, are only a part of the problem. Tinnitus and hearing loss can both be symptoms of TMD, and it can be very challenging to acquire an accurate diagnosis of either condition. This is something that many people who suffer from TMD realize. Many people are advised that they require hearing aids when in reality, the problem lies with their jaws.

Because the ears are particularly sensitive and play a vital role in maintaining full-body balance, many patients who suffer from TMD also experience problems with dizziness and nausea.

Types of TMJ Hearing Loss

Conductive 

This is caused by any illness or disease that impedes the mechanical conveyance of sound from the middle ear to the inner ear. This causes a drop in intensity (loudness), so the energy that reaches the inner ear is less intense than intended.

Sensorineural 

This is due to a malfunction of the inner ear or auditory nerve. This may be caused by a failure of the hair cells to stimulate the nerves of hearing or a metabolic issue in the inner ear fluids. It can also result from inner ear organ damage.

Mixed 

In addition to irreversible hearing loss caused by an inner ear or auditory nerve issue, the middle ear mechanism is also dysfunctional, which makes the hearing worse than sensorineural hearing loss alone.

With TMJ, your ear experiences the following symptoms:

• The TMJ nerves transmit pain signals to the brain.
• The signal is sent through the ear canal.
• The brain receives the signal from the ear and TMJ.
• The brain triggers a response from the ear by contracting the craniofacial muscles.
• Frequent muscular contractions cause the TMJ and other bones to become misaligned.
• The tensor palatini muscle pulls on the eardrum and causes Eustachian tube malfunction.

Diagnosis

If an individual complains of ear fullness, hearing loss, or tinnitus but does not display any common signs of an ear-related condition, an audiologist or an ENT may also suspect a problem with the TMJ. In general, a doctor or dentist can diagnose TMD through a physical examination. However, an audiologist or an ENT may also suspect a problem with the TMJ.

After examining your jaw for signs of pain, popping noises, or stiffness, the diagnosis may become clear at this point. Your doctor may also suggest getting panoramic X-rays done so that they can get a complete picture of what’s going on with your jaw, teeth, and facial bones.

Treatment

Treatment of a TMJ disorder may reverse your hearing loss and relieve other ear-related problems. The treatment may differ for each patient depending on the condition’s underlying cause. Your doctor may recommend that you wear a splint or mouth guard to aid in the recovery and relaxation of the muscles in your jaw.

Your doctor may suggest physical therapy to help strengthen the muscles around your jaw. You may also be prescribed medication, such as analgesics to reduce pain or muscle relaxants to ease muscle tension. In exceptional circumstances, your primary care physician may recommend that you consult an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to have any damage to the TMJ repaired.

Consult with Garza DDS to learn more about TMJ hearing loss

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above and have been unable to find relief, you may suffer from TMJ hearing loss. To learn more about this condition and to find out if treatment is available, please consult with Garza DDS. We specialize in diagnosing and treating TMJ disorders and can help you get your life back on track.

Ear Ringing & Vertigo Treatment New Jersey| Headache & TMJ Center of New Jersey

Problems affecting your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which is the sliding hinge joint connecting your lower jaw to your skull, can cause many symptoms that do not necessarily seem to have anything at all to do with your jaw. Ear-related symptoms, such as tinnitus, vertigo and ear pain are the perfect examples.

Dizziness and loss of balance due to vertigo as well as tinnitus and ear pain can be very serious. If you experience these symptoms on a regular basis, you may often feel disoriented, lightheaded or even confused. It may be difficult to go about your daily routine and do something as routine as drive to work or play with your children.

Fortunately, the team at Headache & TMJ Center of New Jersey is here to help. If other doctors have ruled out ear infections or other ear problems, Dr. Ivan & Allan Stein may be able to link your ear-related symptoms to a problem with your TMJ. They offer several treatments to restore normal form and function to your jaw joint, reliving tinnitus, ear pain, vertigo and many other symptoms you may be experiencing.

The Link Between Tinnitus, Vertigo and Ear Pain and TMJ Disorder

Patients are often surprised to learn that the reason they are experiencing ear-related symptoms is not due to an ear infection, but rather a problem with the nearby jaw joint. If you think about the physical proximity of the jaw joint and ears, the relationship starts to make more sense.

You have a TMJ on either side of your face, located mere millimeters from your ear canals. In fact, your jaw and your inner ears are so close that they actually share a ligament. Your inner ear has sensors that help regulate your sense of gravity and keep you feeling balanced and upright.

Because of the shared anatomy and the proximity of the TMJ to the inner ear, an injured, inflamed or otherwise malfunctioning TMJ can trigger sensations in the surrounding structures that cause ear symptoms. If your TMJ does not work properly, it can cause tinnitus (a ringing of the ears), ear pain, or a sensation of fullness in your ears. TMJ inflammation can also throw off the sensors in your ear that help you stay balanced, leading to the dizzying or spinning sensation that we know as vertigo.

Resolve Ear and Balance-Related Symptoms of TMJ

Although ear-related symptoms of TMJ can be concerning, they are treatable. The first step is to confirm a TMJ diagnosis with Drs. Stein. They will ask you about the history and frequency of your symptoms and examine your jaw and jaw joint. Depending on your symptoms, they may ask you to see an ear nose and throat doctor to rule out any other contributing medical problems.

Once Drs. Stein confirm that TMJ disorder, or TMD, is to blame, our team can suggest strategies to help. Usually, the first line of defense is self-care techniques such as resting your jaw with soft foods or heat or cold therapy, and taking over-the-counter medication to reduce pain and inflammation.

Drs. Stein may need to align your bite, improve your jaw’s normal resting position or make other dental or orthodontic modifications to restore full function to your TMJ. Our patients have seen great results and a significant improvement in symptom severity and frequency under our care.

Consult With Our TMJ Specialist

Many doctors are not completely aware of the connection between ear-related symptoms and TMJ — but Headache & TMJ Center of New Jersey is. Our trained TMJ specialists, Dr. Ivan & Allan Stein, can establish a diagnosis and customize a treatment plan to your needs. Call or email us today to request an appointment with our TMJ doctor.

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How Ringing Ears Relates to Your Jaw Joint

Your jaw and ears are closely related, with the lower jawbone connecting to your skull near the ear canal via the temporomandibular joints (TMJs). These joints rotate and slide back and forth, allowing you to chew, speak, drink and yawn. Any problems with a TMJ can lead to a TMJ disorder (TMD) and a host […]

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How your hearing affects your coordination

How your hearing affects your coordination

Ear problems cause more problems than just hearing loss. They can also affect your ability to walk, stand, and balance. Here is some information about movement disorders and the role your ears play in it.

Your ears don’t just help you hear. In fact, they work together with other body systems to coordinate you in space. If you have a stable sense of balance, then you will not have problems and incoordination, as well as the risk of falling. However, your eyes and brain are not the only organs involved in this process.

Many people who have balance problems believe that the problem lies in their ears. Ear imbalances can leave you unsteady, unsteady, or at risk of falling. These feelings of dizziness can seriously affect your ability to walk, stand, and even sit. Before we get into balance disorders and how to treat them, it is important to understand the role of the ears in balance.

How do we balance ourselves?

Our balance system relies on a maze of bones and tissues located in the inner ear. It contains semicircular canals, otolithic organs, and the cochlea. While the cochlea is used for hearing, the canals are used for balance. They look like three circular loops, and each is responsible for the perception of different types of movement. One feels up/down, the other feels side to side, and the latter feel tilt. When the fluid in these tubes moves, the hair cells sense the movement and transmit it to our brain. This allows us to understand how we move in space. Our balance system is so sensitive that it even tells us when we are moving in a vehicle or in an elevator.

Inner ear problems can lead to balance problems, dizziness and even nausea. We may feel like we are moving even though we are standing still, struggling to stay upright, or being motion sick from standing still. These are all serious problems that can affect our ability to move and sit. People with severe dizziness may even feel unwell when they lie down.

Many things can lead to balance problems, but a lesser known fact is that hearing loss can cause balance problems. Our ears are involved in more than just hearing, and the presence of semi-circular canals in our ears can lead to balance problems in people suffering from hearing loss.

Does hearing loss cause coordination problems?

Although some of these conditions are related to each other, hearing loss and balance problems do not always occur together. Not all people who suffer from balance disorders suffer from hearing loss, and not all people with hearing loss experience a noticeable loss of balance. However, they do happen in tandem from time to time.

Both labyrinthitis and Meniere’s disease can lead to hearing loss and balance problems.

Labyrinthitis is an infection of the inner ear. This happens when the labyrinth, the structure inside your inner ear, becomes swollen and inflamed. This can lead to hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness and nausea. This condition is also known as vestibular neuronitis, but the difference is that vestibular neuronitis is not associated with hearing loss. Most people do not experience hearing loss when they have an inner ear infection, but it is possible. This condition is called labyrinthitis. In most cases, this condition can be treated, but severe infections can lead to more severe damage.

Meniere’s disease, formerly known as Endolymphatic Hydrops, is an increased pressure in the labyrinth. This can cause hearing loss, dizziness and tinnitus. Meniere’s disease usually only affects one side. After a few years, the condition may disappear naturally.

What kind of movement disorders?

An imbalance is any condition that results in loss of balance or feeling dizzy. It can be caused by simple things like ear infections or low blood pressure, or a more serious problem like tumors or poor circulation. Whatever causes imbalance, it can lead to serious problems. A person with balance problems may feel like they are tipping over, spinning, or floating even when standing still. Some people with balance problems report feeling dizzy when they turn their head, especially when they get out of bed or roll over. They may stumble from time to time, hold on to walls to coordinate themselves, or may fall.

Common causes of incoordination are:

• Positional vertigo or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). A harmless condition caused by age or head injury. It causes dizziness when loose otoconia or biocrystals fall into the semicircular canals.

• labyrinthitis. Explained above.

• Vestibular neuronitis. Labyrinthitis without hearing loss.

• Mal de Debarguement Syndrome (MdDS). Sensation of remnant from prolonged movement. Many people experience this after long periods in the ocean or on a boat. You can feel like you’re still at sea, swaying and swaying. Some people even experience it after long runs on the treadmill.

• Meniere’s disease. Explained above.

• Perilymphist fistula. This happens when fluid from the inner ear seeps into the middle ear. It can happen at birth, after a head injury or surgery, during infections, or after scuba diving.

Treatment of movement disorder

Treatment of balance disorders depends largely on the cause of your condition. Infections can be treated with antibiotics, while illnesses such as Meniere’s require other medications. Many people with persistent or incurable balance problems do special exercises. These exercises are known as vestibular rehabilitation therapy, or VRT.

These exercises help to desensitize the balance system to certain movements, making it easier for the person to move without causing dizziness. While this may not completely solve the problem, it can prevent falls and relieve dizziness. Many people who receive VRT have fewer problems with tilting, turning their heads, and walking.

These exercises must be done correctly to have any positive effect. A VRT specialist can help you develop a set of such exercises. It is important to perform these exercises in the presence of a specialist to insure against falls and to properly perform the exercises.

how to identify him by the shape of his ears, lobes and other features

Sometimes it is enough to take a closer look at a person to see his features. For example, a person who is smart or stupid, simple-hearted or cunning, kind or not very much, can be betrayed by his ears. The most reliable sign is that they cannot be changed by makeup or exercise! The shape of the ear and the character are often connected, and even without pictures it is easy to remember the basic principles of the physiognomy of the ears.

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Scientists have long proven that a person’s ears are as special and unique as his fingerprints. It is believed that this part of the body is far from the least important in determining the nature and inclinations of the individual. How to determine the character of a person by the ears? Every detail in the features of the structure, location or size of the ear is responsible for certain – good or bad – personality traits.

Ear position

Physiognomists – specialists who determine the spiritual qualities of a person based on the analysis of facial features – have learned to determine intelligence by the position of the upper line of the ears. Everything here is quite logical and simple: if the ears are higher than the level of the eyebrows – high intelligence; at eye level – medium; below eye level – low intelligence. However, you should not run after everyone you know with a ruler and stigmatize the owners of low ears with narrow-mindedness. Since at the moment physiognomy is not recognized by the scientific method, the ears can only guess what kind of intelligence a person has.

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Making a new acquaintance, special attention should be paid to the symmetry of the ears. For example, if a person’s ears are very different from each other, this indicates his mental and physical disharmony. It will be very difficult to communicate with such a person, and it is not easy to determine the character by the ears in such a situation.

The ears, which are very tightly pressed to the head, will hint at the subtle mind of a friend. Protruding ears are also good. The character of people with protruding ears is usually inquisitive and open, but their analytical thinking is weak. In addition, it is believed that if the ears stick out, then the character of a person is frivolous, one should not expect special sexual intelligibility from such an individual.

Character according to the size of the ears

Big ears and character

Considering the ears of the interlocutor, one should not always adhere to the rule “the more the better”, but there is still some truth in this statement. Big ears speak of the active character of a person, but only if they have clear contours. A smooth, neatly shaped shell testifies to logic and intelligence. People with such ears are among those who can be trusted.

Large fleshy ears with drooping lobes speak of wisdom and nobility. In the East, they read the character by the ears and believe that spiritual mentors and teachers often have such large ears.

Ears of medium size

Those with medium ears are lucky in love, but their careers often do not work out, and their financial situation leaves much to be desired. In this case, you should pay attention to the shape and size of the earlobe: the character of a person will largely depend on it. A fleshy lobe will indicate a strong-willed character, while a thin and small lobe indicates a lack of vitality and failure in a career.

Small thick ears

If the interlocutor’s ears are small and thick, then most likely the person in front of you is deceitful and changeable. It is better not to start talking about art with “fat ears” – this person will not be interested in them. Just first look for reference books about the ears and the character of a person with pictures in order to have an idea exactly which ears are considered fat and not immediately reject new acquaintances.

Small thin ears

The character of a person can also be determined by the ears if your counterpart does not have outstanding “locators”. Small thin ears are a sign of refined taste. But if the ears are very thin, almost transparent, then in front of you is a passionate person, but nervous and quick-tempered.

The shape of the ears and the character of a person

Long narrow ears

Long and narrow ears are usually possessed by people who find it difficult to concentrate on something, to decide in life. The nature of the elongated ears is usually difficult to determine, such personalities are very unpredictable. But such ears are often found in centenarians.

Ears with a thick edge

Ears with an unusually thick edge always indicate an extraordinary sense of rhythm, strength and skill. This can be expressed, for example, in sporting achievements, excellent ability to play a musical instrument or the ability to any craft. The character of a person by ears with a thick edge is also easy to determine: most likely, this is a smart, healthy, but not too prudent individual.

Pointed ear and character

If the ears are pointed like a cat’s, this indicates an inconsistency in character. It is difficult for such people to make acquaintances, to trust others. By the way, the owners of “elven” ears themselves are not averse to deceiving their neighbors for their own benefit, they are cunning and prudent.

Angled ears

Rectangular ears indicate strength, health, lust for power and leadership qualities. This shape of the ears and the corresponding character are more common in men.

Round ears

Neat round ears without pronounced lobes are characteristic of idealists who, however, are able to adapt well and make compromises. They are more common in women. If you want to determine the character by the shape of the ears of a man, and you come across a round-eared specimen, take a closer look at it: most likely, it will be comfortable and fun with it.

Ears with a wide opening

If a finger, or even two, easily fits into the ear, then we are talking about an intelligent, generous, open person who is destined for a long life. If you determine the character by the ears of a man, pay attention to whether there are hairs in the ear. If there is, that’s a good sign.

Ears with a narrow passage

If even one finger does not enter the ear, then such people are considered narrow-minded, stingy, secretive. They are constantly in a state of stress and live a little.