How are tinnitus and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders related. What causes tinnitus associated with jaw pain. Can treating TMJ help relieve tinnitus symptoms. What are the best treatments for TMJ-related tinnitus.

The Relationship Between Tinnitus and Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Tinnitus, commonly known as ringing in the ears, is often associated with hearing loss. However, in some cases, tinnitus can be linked to physical dysfunctions in other parts of the body, such as the jaw and neck. One such connection that has gained attention is the relationship between tinnitus and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

TMJ disorders affect the joint that connects the jawbone to the skull, and can cause pain and discomfort in the jaw area. Recent research has shown a strong correlation between TMJ disorders and the occurrence of tinnitus. This connection is particularly interesting as it suggests that addressing TMJ issues may potentially alleviate tinnitus symptoms in some patients.

How Common is TMJ-Related Tinnitus?

A study published in the journal Cranio in October 2020 examined the prevalence of tinnitus among patients with temporomandibular disorders. The researchers found that:

• 11.46% of patients with temporomandibular disorders also experienced tinnitus
• Tinnitus severity levels varied significantly among patients with TMJ disorders
• No significant relationships were found between right and left ear pure tone audiometry test results in patients

These findings highlight the importance of considering TMJ disorders as a potential contributing factor in cases of tinnitus, especially when other causes have been ruled out.

Understanding Peripheral Tinnitus and Its Causes

Peripheral tinnitus refers to cases where the source of the tinnitus is not centralized in the brain but rather originates from physical dysfunctions elsewhere in the body. TMJ-related tinnitus falls into this category. Other potential causes of peripheral tinnitus include:

1. Obstructions in the ear, such as excessive earwax or foreign objects
2. Head and neck injuries affecting nerves, blood flow, or muscles
3. Ototoxic reactions to certain medications

In cases of peripheral tinnitus, addressing the underlying physiological problem may help alleviate tinnitus symptoms. However, it’s important to note that these causes apply to only a small percentage of total tinnitus cases.

The TMJ-Tinnitus Connection: Exploring the Mechanism

The exact mechanism by which TMJ disorders can lead to tinnitus is not fully understood. However, several theories have been proposed to explain this connection:

• Shared nerve pathways: The trigeminal nerve, which innervates the jaw muscles, is closely connected to the auditory system. Dysfunction in the jaw area may lead to abnormal nerve signals that affect the auditory processing centers in the brain.
• Muscle tension: TMJ disorders often involve tension in the muscles surrounding the jaw joint. This tension can potentially affect the muscles in the middle ear, leading to tinnitus.
• Vascular changes: TMJ problems may alter blood flow in the area, potentially affecting the inner ear and contributing to tinnitus.
• Ligament chain: Some researchers suggest exploring the ligament chain from the cervical spine through the neck to the jaw and ear as a potential pathway for TMJ-related tinnitus.

Understanding these potential mechanisms can help guide treatment approaches for patients experiencing both TMJ disorders and tinnitus.

Diagnosing TMJ-Related Tinnitus: Challenges and Considerations

Accurately diagnosing TMJ-related tinnitus can be challenging due to the complex nature of both conditions. Patients often experience a variety of symptoms, and the primary diagnosis may not always be clear. Some individuals may have TMJ as the primary issue with secondary tinnitus, while others may have tinnitus as the main complaint with TMJ problems as a secondary concern.

To ensure an accurate diagnosis, healthcare professionals should consider the following:

• Comprehensive medical history, including both TMJ and tinnitus symptoms
• Physical examination of the jaw, neck, and ears
• Audiological tests to assess hearing function
• Imaging studies, such as MRI or CT scans, to evaluate the jaw joint and surrounding structures
• Consultation with multiple specialists, including dentists, otolaryngologists, and audiologists

A multidisciplinary approach is often necessary to properly diagnose and treat patients with both TMJ disorders and tinnitus.

Treatment Options for TMJ-Related Tinnitus

When tinnitus is associated with TMJ disorders, addressing the underlying jaw issues may help alleviate tinnitus symptoms. Treatment options for TMJ-related tinnitus may include:

Conservative Treatments

• Dental treatments: Bite realignment or the use of oral appliances to correct jaw positioning
• Physical therapy: Exercises and techniques to improve jaw function and reduce muscle tension
• Medications: Anti-inflammatory drugs or muscle relaxants to manage pain and inflammation
• Stress management techniques: Relaxation exercises and cognitive-behavioral therapy to reduce jaw clenching and grinding

Advanced Treatments

• Botox injections: To relax overactive jaw muscles
• Trigger point injections: To alleviate pain in specific areas of muscle tension
• Arthrocentesis: A minimally invasive procedure to flush out the TMJ and reduce inflammation
• Surgery: In severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to correct structural issues in the jaw joint

It’s important to note that treatment outcomes may vary, and a combination of approaches may be necessary to achieve optimal results.

The Role of Interdisciplinary Care in Managing TMJ-Related Tinnitus

Given the complex nature of TMJ-related tinnitus, an interdisciplinary approach to care is often beneficial. This may involve collaboration between various healthcare professionals, including:

• Dentists specializing in TMJ disorders
• Otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat doctors)
• Audiologists
• Physical therapists
• Pain management specialists
• Neurologists

By working together, these specialists can develop comprehensive treatment plans that address both the TMJ issues and tinnitus symptoms. This collaborative approach can lead to more effective management of the condition and improved quality of life for patients.

Lifestyle Modifications and Self-Care Strategies for TMJ-Related Tinnitus

In addition to professional treatments, patients with TMJ-related tinnitus can benefit from various lifestyle modifications and self-care strategies. These may include:

• Adopting a soft diet to reduce stress on the jaw joint
• Avoiding excessive jaw movements, such as wide yawning or gum chewing
• Practicing good posture to reduce tension in the neck and jaw area
• Using heat or cold therapy to alleviate jaw pain and muscle tension
• Implementing stress reduction techniques, such as meditation or yoga
• Maintaining good sleep hygiene to promote overall health and reduce stress

Patients should work closely with their healthcare providers to develop a personalized self-care plan that complements their professional treatments.

Future Research Directions in TMJ-Related Tinnitus

While the connection between TMJ disorders and tinnitus has been established, there is still much to learn about this relationship. Future research directions may include:

• Further investigation into the precise mechanisms linking TMJ dysfunction to tinnitus
• Development of more targeted treatments for TMJ-related tinnitus
• Long-term studies to assess the effectiveness of various treatment approaches
• Exploration of potential genetic factors that may predispose individuals to both TMJ disorders and tinnitus
• Investigation of the role of central sensitization in TMJ-related tinnitus

As our understanding of the TMJ-tinnitus connection grows, it is likely that new and more effective treatment options will emerge, offering hope to those suffering from this challenging condition.

In conclusion, the relationship between tinnitus and temporomandibular joint disorders is a complex and intriguing area of study. While TMJ-related tinnitus affects only a small percentage of tinnitus sufferers, understanding this connection can lead to more effective diagnosis and treatment strategies. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach and considering both TMJ and tinnitus symptoms, healthcare professionals can provide more comprehensive care to patients experiencing this challenging combination of conditions. As research in this field continues to advance, we can look forward to improved treatment options and a better quality of life for those affected by TMJ-related tinnitus.

TMJ Treatments | American Tinnitus Association

In a vast majority of cases, tinnitus is caused by hearing loss and is a phantom auditory sensation generated by the brain in response to missing acoustic stimulation. However, tinnitus symptoms can also be generated by physical dysfunctions elsewhere in the body.

These less common cases are sometimes referred to as peripheral tinnitus — signifying that the cause is on the periphery of the nervous system, as opposed to being “centralized” in the brain. In cases of peripheral tinnitus, addressing the underlying physiological problem(s) may also treat the tinnitus.

It is important to note that these causes (and potential treatments) apply to only a very small percentage of total tinnitus cases. A qualified healthcare professional can typically diagnose and provide treatment options for the cases below.

TMJ Dysfunctions

When tinnitus is caused by a jaw joint (temporomandibular joint, or TMJ) dysfunction, dental treatment or bite realignment may relieve symptoms. A dental health professional can diagnose and fix relieve this problem.

Obstructions in the Ear

Tinnitus can be sometimes be caused by excessive earwax, a loose hair, or another object in contact with the ear drum.  Removal of the object by a qualified health professional may alleviate symptoms.

Head and Neck Injuries

Severe injury to the head or neck can cause nerve, blood flow and muscle issues that result in somatic tinnitus. Treating the underlying physical trauma via drug therapy, osteopathy, physical therapy, or chiropracty, may, in turn, remediate the tinnitus symptoms. In extreme cases, surgical practices, such as a neurectomy or microvascular decompression, may be necessary. Patients with these injuries should consult their physician to determine the best course of treatment.

Ototoxic Reactions

When tinnitus is a symptom of an ototoxic medication, a change in prescriptions or drug schedule may provide relief. Most ototoxic drugs cause only temporary acute tinnitus symptoms, which go away once the medication is fully metabolized by the body.

If you are worried about tinnitus as a side effect of your medications, please consult your subscribing physician or pharmacist. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting with your healthcare provider. The risks of stopping a medication may far exceed any potential benefit.

Should we explore the ligament chain from the cervical spine through the neck to the jaw to the ear? – Caring Medical Florida

Ross Hauser, MD

For most of the patients that we see with problems linked to the cervical spine, we rarely see a patient who suffers from the symptoms of one diagnosis. Such is the case with people with tinnitus and TMJ and TMJ and tinnitus. This is not a play on words. Some people have the primary diagnosis of TMJ (Temporomandibular joint dysfunction) or a diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) with secondary tinnitus. Some people have tinnitus and among other secondary disorders, problems of the TMJ. These people with diagnosed correctly with TMJ and tinnitus are fortunate that their problems have been identified accurately as an accurate diagnosis is not always easy to come by.

This relationship and diagnosis problem between TMJ and tinnitus was discussed in an August 2019 study by researchers publishing in The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology. (1) They wrote: “There was a strong relationship between tinnitus occurrence and temporomandibular disorders. The findings implied the significance of exploring the signs of temporomandibular disorders in patients with tinnitus as well as tinnitus in those who complain from temporomandibular disorders.”

The symptoms of TMJ and Tinnitus vary from patient to patient.

When patients suffer from a myriad of confusing and often conflicting diagnoses, they search for others like themselves to see what their experiences were how they may have come to terms or a resolution of their tinnitus and TMJ challenges. What many people find is that the severity of TMJ and Tinnitus vary greatly, while there are many similar characteristics, there are many variables.

In this October 2020 study in the medical journal Cranio, (2) 288 patients with temporomandibular joint complaints as well as 33 patients with both temporomandibular and tinnitus complaints were evaluated.

• The incidence of tinnitus was found to be 11.46% among patients with temporomandibular disorders.
• Tinnitus and tinnitus severity levels were found to have significant differences in patients with temporomandibular disorders.
• No significant relationships were found between right and left ear pure tone audiometry test results in patients.
  • For those of you, if not all of you reading this article, pure tone audiometry test seeks to measure hearing loss. In some patients, there is hearing loss and in some no hearing loss, yet another compounding factor in tinnitus and TMJ.

The conclusion of this research is that there a relationship between aural symptoms, tinnitus, and temporomandibular disorders. A brief note here: The most commonly reported aural symptoms in TMJ/TMD patients are otalgia (earache), tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing loss.

These are the same observations we have seen in 27 plus years of clinical experience. Many people with tinnitus have TMJ and many people with TMJ and tinnitus. One more thing, many of these people have cervical spine instability as the origin of their problems.

How this cervical spine instability developed can be helpful in understanding the overall experiences that this patient is feeling or suffering from. If tinnitus and TMJ resulted from a neck injury, such as a whiplash injury, then we can face tinnitus and TMJ with an eye towards other symptoms as they relate to Whiplash Associated Disorders. If the problems of tinnitus and TMJ stem from degenerative wear and tear and osteoarthritis, we can also anticipate the various problems associated with cervical spine instability and cervical and vagus nerve compression.

Patient frustrations, the long wait to see if treatment was effective or not, and seeing what may or may not help.

In our article tinnitus treatment when there are symptoms of cervical spine instability, we noted two recent research studies that took the time to ask patients what their feelings were in how they were being treated for their tinnitus. In the first study from October 2018(3), researchers at Hofstra, Yale, and Columbia Universities wrote: “Many patients are not satisfied with their doctor’s answer when they complain about tinnitus.” Why? A May/June 2019 study in the journal Ear and Hearing. (4) may offer us the clue as this paper suggested that the full experience of living with tinnitus from a patient’s perspective has been under-investigated.” This under-investigation may miss the true cause of the patient’s problems.

What these two studies suggest is reflected in the stories that we hear from our patients. They sound like this:

I have TMJ only on my right side, and that is the side I have tinnitus.

I have TMJ only on my right side, and that is the side I have tinnitus. I wear a neuromuscular orthodic at night. My surgeon told me that we have to wait a few months to see if this helps before we can move onto surgery. I have been wearing it, it is not helping, but I have to wait some more. I need help today.

If I ice my jaw or take anti-inflammatories my tinnitus gets better

My doctor asked me if I moved my jaw around, could I lessen or worsen the sound in my ears and the clicking in my jaw. I said no, but if I ice my jaw or take anti-inflammatories my tinnitus gets better. I also need drugs to sleep well. My doctor said to continue on with the pain medications and sleep medications. I want treatment, not medications

I have TMJ, Tinnitus, and many other problems 

I have TMJ, tinnitus, digestive problems, and a list of other symptoms. I was one of the people who got SSRIs for anxiety and later it was found out they were making my tinnitus worse. Now my doctors are looking at low vagal tone. I have a heart rate variable monitor to check my vagus nerve function.

Note: Heart rate variability (HRV) is one of the ways you can measure your vagal tone and can be a great indicator of overall health and ability to heal. We use it frequently to help some of our more complex neck patients who are being treated for disabling conditions.

Insufficient knowledge in diagnosis and treatment

A September 2019 study in The International Tinnitus Journal (5) found that when 37 Primary Health Care Dentists were sent a questionnaire to verify the dentist’s knowledge on the interrelationship between temporomandibular dysfunction and tinnitus after continuing education, the collected data indicated insufficient dentist knowledge. The researchers concluded: “It is important to emphasize the importance of instructing and strengthening the knowledge of the Primary Health Care Dentists professional on the interrelationship between temporomandibular dysfunction and tinnitus.”

The prevalence of tinnitus is higher in individuals with a temporomandibular joint disorder but is it a TMJ disc problem?

One problem that you and your doctors may be chasing is the TMJ disc problem. In our article The evidence and comparison of TMJ injection treatments, we wrote: “Someone who has been suffering from long-term TMJ problems, at some point, starts to realize that their challenges are challenges far beyond a disc or a TMJ appliance problem. When this person then has a failed TMJ surgery, these challenges they face become that much greater and their jaw problem that started out as an annoyance has turned into years of searching for anything that will help them with the new cascade of symptoms they suffer from beyond opening their mouths without pain.”

TMJ surgery and appliances do help people. But these are not the patients we see in our clinic. We see the people TMJ surgery and appliances did not help. These are people, perhaps like yourself, whose TMJ has turned into a problem of tinnitus, headaches, neck pain, difficulty swallowing, and dizziness.

A January 2020 study in the journal International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology (6) offered these insights:

• The study included 53 adult patients with bilateral or unilateral TMD (30 with and 23 without tinnitus).
• The association between tinnitus and morphological aspects of TMD (changes in condylar morphology (bone changes or spurring at the TMJ)), articular eminence morphology (displacement of the bone), and disc morphology), disc displacement (with/without reduction), condylar translation (the movement of the bone – this would be classic TMJ instability), and intra-articular effusion (swelling) was analyzed on MRI images.

The average patient age was about 46 years old. Disc displacement was the most common finding in both groups (24 patients with tinnitus versus 15 without. Only the frequency of disc displacement with reduction was significantly different between groups.

Not a disc problem but a problem with alignment

In this section, we will explore how doctors are beginning to recognize that physical therapy and exercise may benefit the patient with concurrent TMJ and tinnitus symptoms.

Some people do very well with physical therapy for their symptoms. These are usually not the people who we see. While the benefits of physical therapy and exercise below are explored as being beneficial, for many patients these treatments will not have long-lasting or even short-term success. The problem is physical therapy and exercise cannot alleviate a problem caused by damaged and weakened cervical spine ligaments and damaged tendon attachments to the bone. For physical therapy and exercise to be successful, these soft tissue supporting structures must be strong enough to create the resistance needed for the muscles to strengthen. If you are having difficulties holding your head up, if you suffer from neurological problems beyond tinnitus such as vision problems, heart rate variation, difficulty swallowing, etc, it may be likely that you are suffering from significant cervical spine instability. I will address this below.

Doctors suggest if you do treat TMJ with a splint and exercise program you can reduce tinnitus symptoms

An April 2019 study in the Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache (7) wanted to suggest that treating TMJ would help tinnitus so they did so cautiously: “There is low-quality evidence for a positive effect of conservative temporomandibular disorders treatment on tinnitus complaints. The combination of splint therapy and exercise treatment is currently the best-investigated treatment approach, showing a decrease in tinnitus severity and intensity. Despite the low level of evidence and the methodologic issues in the included studies, it is noteworthy that all included studies show positive treatment effects.”

Dextrose Prolotherapy injections

Researchers compared the effectiveness of  dextrose prolotherapy and occlusal (mouth) splints in treating internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint.

A November 2020 study published in Journal of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery (8) compared the effectiveness of  dextrose prolotherapy and occlusal (mouth) splints in treating internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint.

• A total of 34 patients with temporomandibular joint internal derangement classed as Wilkes stages II or III were recruited for the study, and were randomly divided into study and control groups with 17 patients each.
  • Wilkes stages for TMJ assessment
    • Wilkes stage II is typically characterized by normal or seemingly normal range of jaw motion with intermittent episodes of pain, jaw locking and clicking.
    • Wilkes stage II is typically characterized by more pain, frequent headaches, loss of range of motion, onset or development of TMJ disc damage and deformity.
• The patients in these control and study groups were treated with splints and prolotherapy, respectively. Outcome parameters, such as pain, mouth opening, clicking and deviation, were assessed for a review period of 1 year.

Results: Nine patients in the (Prolotherapy) study group had complete absence of pain, compared with only one (splint group) patient in the control group. The results showed that patients who received prolotherapy demonstrated improvement in pain, mouth opening, and clicking, but no significant difference in deviation was observed between the groups after 1 year (p = 0. 862).

Conclusion: Prolotherapy was found to be superior in providing long-term clinical relief, with reduction in pain and clicking along with improved mouth opening.

What are we seeing in this image?

A Digital Motion X-Ray or DMX is a tool we use to help understand a patient’s neck instability and how we may be able to help the patients with our treatments. In the illustration below a patient who suffered from upper cervical instability demonstrated hypermobility of the C1-C2. This hypermobility can result in common symptoms of neck pain, headaches, dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, concentration difficulties, anxiety, and other symptoms common in TMJ/TMD patients.

Tinnitus can be triggered by cervical neck instability, TMJ-TMD can be triggered by cervical neck instability.

Tinnitus can be caused by temporomandibular disorders. Temporomandibular disorders can be caused by cervical neck instability. Shouldn’t we then explore the source? Cervical neck instability?

A January 2019 study (9) evaluated the prevalence of tinnitus in patients with temporomandibular disorders and the possible effects of TMJ/TMD treatment on tinnitus symptoms.

Here is what they discovered: “The finding that tinnitus is more common in patients with TMD means that it can be regarded as a comorbidity to TMD. However, in view of the lack of evidence currently available, further well-designed and randomised studies with control groups are needed to investigate whether possible mechanisms common to tinnitus and TMD do exist and whether TMD treatment can be justified to try to alleviate tinnitus in patients with TMD and comorbidity of tinnitus.”

• Listen again: The study says there is a connection between temporomandibular disorders and tinnitus. The researchers cannot make a definitive connection because available research on treatment does not allow them to suggest a treatment that would appear to be beneficial to BOTH problems.
• Something is missing in this puzzle.  In our opinion at Caring Medical, it is a diagnosis of cervical instability.

The missing diagnosis of cervical instability appears to have influenced supportive findings that were also published in January 2019 in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation. (10) After reviewing the medical literature that spanned from 1992 to 2018, this research team was able to demonstrate that the prevalence of tinnitus in TMD patients is significantly higher than that in patients without TMD.

• So there is a connection between temporomandibular disorders and tinnitus, but there seems to be a missing link.
• Something is missing in this puzzle.  In our opinion at Caring Medical, it is a diagnosis of cervical instability.

From cervical ligaments to TMJ ligaments to middle ear ligaments. The long connection.

Investigating the ligaments further. First we are going to connecting the middle ear to the TMJ via the ligaments. Then the connection will be made to the cervical spine.

In your many tests and examinations you have probably been described the function of the malleus. If you have not, that is the small bone in the middle ear which transmits vibrations along the line of other small vibrating bones in your ear.

There is a long journey of medical research which suggests ligament damage may be the cause for strange sound sensations in the ear. We are going to briefly travel this journey to help support our suggestion that ligament problems can be the cause of your TMJ and tinnitus.

Research in 1989: It could be the ligaments causing the problems

In the journal Oral surgery, oral medicine, and oral pathology,(11) a 1989 study examined structural damage to the middle ear caused by TMJ surgery. Two structures that they looked at was the the discomalleolar ligament (DML), which passes from the malleus to the medial retrodiscal tissue (simply the connective tissue at the mandibular fossa that helps holes jaw to skull) of the TMJ, and the anterior malleolar ligament (AML), which connects the malleus with the lingula (a bony portion in the jaw in which nerves including the trigeminal nerve pass) of the mandible via the sphenomandibular ligament (SML).

Learning points:

• It is possible that there is an interaction between TMJ ligaments instability and inner ear ligament instability

To test this hypothesis the researchers applied tension to the to the discomalleolar ligament and/or anterior malleolar ligament in cadaver studies to see if this caused the malleus to move (out of place.) What did they find?

• Tension/stress applied directly to the sphenomandibular ligament resulted in movement of the malleus.
• When the mandibular condyle was manipulated, tension was demonstrated in the sphenomandibular ligament. The results indicate that the anterior malleolar ligament via the anterior malleolar ligament has the potential to cause middle ear damage.
• Damage to the ligaments can cause middle ear damage through the connecting ligament chain from jaw to middle ear.

Research in 2008: It could be the ligaments causing the problems of unexplained otological problems

In 2008, surgeons wrote in the International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery (12) of their investigations into the relationship between the ligaments, malleus and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and to determine the role of these ligaments on the movement of the malleus.

Here 15 cadaver specimens were examined: Here are the findings:

• When tension/stress was applied to the  but when the AML was overstretched, significant movement was observed in 5 cadavers; little movement in 6 cadavers, and no movement in 4 cadavers. This study suggests that extreme stretching of the condyle in conjunction with the ligaments between the ossicles of the inner ear and the TMJ could be the reason for unexplained otological problems.

Research in 2020: It could be the discomallear ligament causing the problems of unexplained otologic symptoms in TMJ disorders

In may 2020 researchers publishing in the Journal of clinical anatomy (13) examined that now decades long investigation of “several anatomic relationships between the ear and the temporo-mandibular joint (that) have been proposed to account for the presence of tinnitus during temporo-mandibular disorders. In this study the discomallear ligament role in TMJ and tinnitus like symptoms was explored.

Again, using cadavers, the researchers found damage in the ligaments that could be the result of a ripple effect between the TMJ ligaments and the middle ear ligaments. They concluded.

The discomallear ligament could represent an anatomical structure that joining the temporo-mandibular joint and the malleus may play a role in the otologic symptoms during temporo-mandibular disorders.

Everything appears to be connected.

Research on cervical instability and cervical spine ligaments

Caring Medical has published dozens of papers on Prolotherapy injections as a treatment in difficult to treat musculoskeletal disorders. Prolotherapy is an injection technique utilizing simple sugar or dextrose. In 2014, we published a comprehensive review of the problems related to weakened damaged cervical neck ligaments in The Open Orthopaedics Journal,(14) What we demonstrated in this study is that the cervical neck ligaments are the main stabilizing structures of the cervical facet joints in the cervical spine and have been implicated as a major source of symptoms to include tinnitus and TMJ.

We often see patients with tinnitus and TMJ, yet they do not have a coordinated effort to address both. We suggest that Prolotherapy injections strengthen the cervical ligaments get at the root cause of these disorders at the cervical level. We are treating the cause, not the symptoms.

In 2015 we followed up this research with our study, “Cervical Instability as a Cause of Barré-Liéou Syndrome and Definitive Treatment with Prolotherapy: A Case Series”, published in the European Journal of Preventive Medicine.(15)

Again here we are making a connection to cervical neck instability and a myriad of problems that includes, for many patients, tinnitus. We wrote:

“Barré-Liéou syndrome, or posterior cervical sympathetic syndrome, has symptomatology related to underlying cervical instability. While classified as a rare disease, Barré-Liéou syndrome is likely underdiagnosed. Vertebral instability, occurring after a neck ligament injury, affects the function of cervical sympathetic ganglia (located anterior to vertebral bodies). Symptomatology includes neck pain, migraines/headache, vertigo, tinnitus, dizziness, visual/auditory disturbances, and other symptoms of the head/neck region.”

In this video, a demonstration of treatment is given

Prolotherapy is referred to as a regenerative injection technique (RIT) because it is based on the premise that the regenerative healing process can rebuild and repair damaged soft tissue structures. It is a simple injection treatment that addresses very complex issues.

This video jumps to 1:05 where the actual treatment begins.

This patient is having C1-C2 areas treated. Ross Hauser, MD, is giving the injections.

Summary and contact us.

Can we help you? How do I know if I’m a good candidate?

We hope you found this article informative and it helped answer many of the questions you may have surrounding TMJ. Just like you, we want to make sure you are a good fit for our clinic prior to accepting your case. While our mission is to help as many people with chronic pain as we can, sadly, we cannot accept all cases. We have a multi-step process so our team can really get to know you and your case to ensure that it sounds like you are a good fit for the unique testing and treatments that we offer here.

Please visit the Hauser Neck Center Patient Candidate Form

References for this article:

1 Omidvar S, Jafari Z. Association Between Tinnitus and Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology. 2019 Jul;128(7):662-75. [Google Scholar]
2 Çebi AT. Presence of tinnitus and tinnitus-related hearing loss in temporomandibular disorders. CRANIO®. 2020 Oct 2:1-5. [Google Scholar]
3 Lee KJ, Liu K. Tinnitus: A Stepchild in Our Specialty. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2018 Oct;159(4):599-600. [Google Scholar]
4 Colagrosso EM, Fournier P, Fitzpatrick EM, Hébert S. A Qualitative Study on Factors Modulating Tinnitus Experience. Ear and hearing. 2018 Jul. [Google Scholar]
5 Martins PFA, Stechman-Neto J, Cristoff KE, Ravazzi GMNC, Goncalves FM, Sampaio RS. Temporomandibular dysfunction and tinnitus the knowledge of the dental surgeon in primary health care. Int Tinnitus J. 2019;23(2):125-132. Published 2019 Sep 4. doi:10.5935/0946-5448.20190022. [Google Scholar]
6 Lavinsky D, Lavinsky J, Setogutti ET, Rehm DDS, Lavinsky L. The Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Temporomandibular Joint to Investigate Tinnitus in Adults with Temporomandibular Joint Disorder: A Comparative Study. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2020;24(1):e68-e72. doi:10. 1055/s-0039-1688840 [Google Scholar]
7 Michiels S, Nieste E, Van de Heyning P, et al. Does Conservative Temporomandibular Therapy Affect Tinnitus Complaints? A Systematic Review. J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2019;33(3):308–317. doi:10.11607/ofph.2055. [Google Scholar]
8 Priyadarshini S, Gnanam A, Sasikala B, Panneerselvam E, Cheeman SR, Mrunalini R, Raja VK. Evaluation of prolotherapy in comparison with occlusal splints in treating internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint–a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery. 2020 Nov 17.  [Google Scholar]
9 Skog C, Fjellner J, Ekberg E, Häggman‐Henrikson B. Tinnitus as a comorbidity to temporomandibular disorders—A systematic review. Journal of oral rehabilitation. 2018 Aug 20. [Google Scholar]
10 Mottaghi A, Menéndez‐Díaz I, Cobo JL, González‐Serrano J, Cobo T. Is there a higher prevalence of tinnitus in patients with temporomandibular disorders? A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Journal of oral rehabilitation. 2018 Aug 20. [Google Scholar]
11 Loughner BA, Larkin LH, Mahan PE. Discomalleolar and anterior malleolar ligaments: possible causes of middle ear damage during temporomandibular joint surgery. Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology. 1989 Jul 1;68(1):14-22. [Google Scholar]
12 Şencimen M, Yalçin B, Doğan N, Varol A, Okçu KM, Ozan H, Aydintuğ YS. Anatomical and functional aspects of ligaments between the malleus and the temporomandibular joint. International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery. 2008 Oct 1;37(10):943-7. [Google Scholar]
13 Anastasi MR, Macchi V, Vellone V, Siniscalchi EN, Anastasi G, Morra A, Porzionato A, De Caro R, De Ponte FS, Cascone P. The discomallear ligament: anatomical, microscopical, and radiologic analysis. Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy. 2020 Jan 25:1-7. [Google Scholar]
14 Steilen D, Hauser R, Woldin B, Sawyer S. Chronic neck pain: making the connection between capsular ligament laxity and cervical instability. The open orthopaedics journal. 2014;8:326.  [Google Scholar]
15 Hauser RA, Steilen D, Sprague IS. Cervical Instability as a Cause of Barré-Liéou Syndrome and Definitive Treatment with Prolotherapy: A Case Series. European Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2015;3(5):155-66. [Google Scholar]

3720

Tinnitus and TMJ | How Does TMJ Affect Tinnitus

Tinnitus is known as a constant ringing of the ears and is sometimes accompanied by pain. Those who suffer from Tinnitus have also been known to say the noise sounds like hissing, roaring, buzzing or clicking. The pain may be worsened or relieved by opening the jaw. The sounds can be soft or incredibly loud and the case can range from mild to severe. The more severe cases have been known to keep people up at night and cause a significant deal of frustration. These noises can be heard in either both ears or just one; it depends on the case. There is no set length for those who suffer from Tinnitus. The noises can last months, years or a lifetime. However, Tinnitus has been known to be a common side effect from those who suffer from TMJ Disorder (TMJ/TMD), or in long form: Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction.

How TMJ and Tinnitus Are Connected

Tinnitus has been known to be a symptom of TMJ in many cases. These two are commonly experienced by the same individuals. The eardrum is located very close to the temporomandibular joint, which is the main joint at issue in cases of TMD. If the temporomandibular joint becomes inflamed, it can affect the eardrum. The inflammation of the joint can affect the stabilization of the eardrum, which can cause the pain and noise associated with Tinnitus.

What is Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

TMD, or Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, is often described as pain associated with the joint or jaw region. This pain can also be paired with the decreased ability to open and close mouth, popping or clicking noises coming from jaw when it is opened or closed, and a limited ability to chew without accompanied discomfort. This disorder is usually due to a misalignment of the structures within the jaw. TMJ disorder can also be caused by tooth wear, orthodontic issues and congenital abnormalities with the joint itself. Depending on the case, the discomfort and pain associated with TMD can typically be lessened with the help of an oral surgeon.

Treatment Options

There are several different options for those who suffer from TMJ/TMD, both surgical and nonsurgical. The non-surgical options include medication, muscle relaxers, physical therapy, and following a soft foods diet. The non-surgical TMJ treatment options that have been known to help with Tinnitus are mouth guards, to prevent grinding, and splints to help stabilize the misaligned eardrum.

If symptoms persist after the exhaustion of non-surgical treatment, you may be a candidate for surgical treatment. Austin Oral Surgery’s team of surgeons has extensive training in surgical treatment of TMJ disorders. To determine if you are a candidate for surgery, a complete temporomandibular joint evaluation by your oral surgeon is a good way to attain a diagnosis.
For questions or to schedule a consultation, call Austin Oral Surgery today.

Is Your “Bad Bite” the Cause of Your Ear Ringing and Pain?

Do you suffer from tinnitus or constant ear pain? Have you been to your doctor for your pain and ringing but still haven’t found a solution?

The reason for this may be because the issue is not solely medical – it is also dental. You could be experiencing a condition called Temporomandibular disorder or TMJ Disorder for short. What can cause TMJ disorder? A malocclusion or a “bad bite.”

TMJ disorder is often hard to diagnose. It is quite common for TMJ sufferers to go to their dentist when they haven’t been able to get a proper diagnosis from their own physician.

How is it that a jaw joint issue can affect the ears?
And is there anything we can do to stop the ringing and the pain? 

TMJ Tinnitus: How a misaligned jaw can result in ear ringing and pain

Your tinnitus is possibly a symptom of a larger problem – namely, TMJ Disorder. But the reality is that even this disorder is a symptom.

The cause of TMJ issues is misalignment of the teeth. Misalignment puts the bones, muscles, joints, and tendons of the head and neck out of alignment as well.

Image Credit

This causes a lot of strain on the muscles, including those of the ear. The ear muscles – the tensor tympani and tensor levi palatine – react to facial muscle tension. The reason for this is because they are both connected to the trigeminal nerve.

The result: ear pain and ringing.

Jaw pain can contribute to problems throughout the body

If you thought TMJ disorder only affects the head and neck – think again.

It affects the entire body.

If you think about it, the way our body is connected from our head to our toes is a beautiful thing. It allows for harmony and fluidity of movement. But the slightest imbalance in your jaws can result in tinnitus, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and jaw pain.  

We Believe… Every Patient Deserves to Find Relief – What a TMJ Dentist Can Do For You

If you experience TMJ tinnitus, jaw pain, migraines, or clicking and popping of your jaw joint, you need to come to my office.

Without jaw joint and tinnitus treatment, your symptoms are likely to get worse down the road. As your symptoms progress, the ringing and ear pain can get more intense. What is now an occasional ear ringing and headache can easily turn into being in constant pain down the road.

It is vital to get the treatment you need to get relief from your symptoms of today, as well as the issues that could arise tomorrow.

One of the common causes of TMJ disorder and tinnitus is a misaligned bite. I have multiple ways of helping you find relief.

• Orthodontics – This is the ultimate TMJ Disorder treatment. If your bite is to blame, we need to fix it. And that is what braces will help us to do.
• TENS Machine – Tight muscles can be a major source of jaw pain. This is a gentle electronic stimulation of the jaw muscles that assists them in releasing and relaxing more fully.
• Custom-Fit Orthotic – This device aligns the jaw so that it’s in a position that’s natural and comfortable. We use a K7 mapping tool to analyze your jaw, which helps us to properly design the orthotic.
• Another solution for more severe TMJ pain is a full mouth reconstruction – where we rebuild and reshape the teeth to allow for a better bite, relieving the muscles and joints in the area.

I’ve worked with multiple patients who experience painful symptoms and continue to educate myself to help them. My goal is to always stay current with treatment techniques and technology. Doing so provides me with some amazing tools that help me provide symptom relief to my patients.

I’ve worked with multiple patients who experience painful symptoms and continue to educate myself to help them. My goal is to always stay current with treatment techniques and technology. Doing so provides me with some amazing tools that help me provide symptom relief to my patients.

Don’t Put Tinnitus Treatment Off Any Longer

You may think that ear ringing or occasional ear pain is just a simple annoyance. But that’s really not true – not if you look at your symptoms as part of a bigger concern that’s happening to your body…

TMJ patients with ringing in their ears often experience pain of one sort or another. They may have earaches, migraines, or shoulder tension. And none of that falls under the category of “simply annoying.”

These symptoms of TMJ disorder can affect your daily life. Even if you don’t have any painful symptoms now, that doesn’t mean you won’t get them in the future.

Save yourself a lot of pain and frustration by getting treatment from my Mount Prospect dentist office. We’ll create a TMJ treatment plan that will provide you with relief and prevent further damage down the road.

Do you think you might have TMJ Disorder? Here at the Meyer Dental Group we believe that TMJ sufferers should get a proper diagnosis from their a dentist. Book a TMJ consultation or fill out my free TMJ Pain Questionnaire. You’ll get a response with my recommendations for treatment and relief.

Dr. Tom Meyer DDS – TMJ Chicago dentist, dentist Mount Prospect

How is Ringing in the Ear Related to Jaw and Neck Pain?

Studies show that there’s a close relationship between temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and tinnitus (ringing in the ear). People with TMJ problems are likely to suffer from tinnitus, and people with neck injuries may also suffer from tinnitus. Some people with either TMJ problems or neck problems can alter the intensity of their tinnitus by moving their mouth, jaw, face and neck. Successful treatment of the neck and jaw can improve tinnitus symptoms. 

What is the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)?

The TMJ is a complex joint which allows chewing.  There’s a tremendous amount of force that is applied through the TMJ because the muscles that make the jaw clench are some of the most powerful in the body. As a result, the joint is at risk of damage just as much as any other weight-bearing joint in the body. TMJ problems can be due to trauma, dislocation to the fibrous disc in the joint, or due to arthritis.

What are the symptoms of TMJ problems?

Most common symptoms include:

• Pain
• Earache
• Jaw clicking
• Grinding and/or clenching of jaw
• Limited movement or locking of jaw
• Swelling of TMJ
• Headaches
• Neck pain
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)

How does the TMJ affect tinnitus?

There are three main reason why problems with the TMJ may cause tinnitus, or make it worse.

1. The chewing muscles are near to some of the muscles that insert into the middle ear and so may have an effect on hearing, and so may promote tinnitus.
2. There is a direct connection between the ligaments that attach to the jaw and one of the hearing bones that sits in the middle ear.
3. The nerve supply from the TMJ has been shown to have connections with the parts of the brain that are involved with both hearing and the interpretation of sound.

What can be done about TMJ disorders?

Simple changes such a soft diet, or the use of anti-inflammatory medicines may help for simple cases. For people who grind their teeth or clench their jaw, a bite guard appliance is frequently used; however, research shows that inserting any type of oral appliance will eventually increase activity of the muscles that clench the jaw.  Therefore, it is crucial to identify and fix the root cause of clenching and grinding. In exceptional cases surgery may be required to perform surgery on the TMJ. If your tinnitus is related to your TMJ problem, the tinnitus may improve as the TMJ problems get resolved.

How can neck problems be related to tinnitus?

Studies show that patients who suffered head and neck injuries, such as a car accident, or who have neck pain or stiffness for other reasons, such as arthritis, are more likely to experience tinnitus. In addition, nerve endings in the neck make connections in the hearing centers of the brain. Tinnitus is often associated other symptoms such as neck pain, headache, depression, and difficulty with memory and concentration.

Treatment generally depends on the cause of the neck problem, but the results from treating the underlying neck problem are often good. Treatment options can be discussed with a clinician that specializes in Craniofacial and Craniomandibular disorders.  Some people are able to change the intensity of their tinnitus by moving their neck.   

If you are currently suffering from tinnitus, jaw pain, or neck pain and want help immediately or have any questions, simply email us at [email protected].  Alternatively, you can get in touch with us by visiting www.fpphysicaltherapy.com or calling 610-822-1072.

Is The Link Between Your Stress & Tinnitus Causing TMJ?

The Link between Tinnitus and TMJ

It might seem like the jaw and the ear are merely close together, but there’s nothing “merely” about the relationship between these two systems.

Physical proximity leads to the functional overlap. For example, consider that molar mike technology the military wants to develop to allow communication using a device attached to the tooth. This device transmits sound to the ear by vibrating teeth, then the vibrations travel to the ear via the bones that connect them. The inner ear is actually housed in the temporal bone, which, yes, is part of the temporomandibular joint (the other part is the mandible, the jawbone). This means that vibrations and pressure changes in the jaw have a very direct route to becoming sounds in your ear.

So, what does TMJ tinnitus sound like? It sounds like a high pitched ringing sound or even a hissing, roaring, clicking, or buzzing sound. The ringing might change as you open or close your jaw.

But that’s not the only connection. Two of the bones in our inner ear–the incus or “anvil” and the malleus or “hammer” are derived evolutionarily from reptilian jawbones. They still retain some of their muscle and nerve connections with the jaw, which can easily cause jaw problems to lead to ear problems.

So it’s not a surprise that most people with TMJ actually experience tinnitus. People with TMJ are about three times as likely to have tinnitus than people without, and if you have TMJ and headaches, you’re six times more likely to have tinnitus.

Stress Aggravates TMJ

So if there is a link between TMJ and tinnitus, it’s easy to see how this leads stress to worsen your tinnitus. It’s common for patients with TMJ to clench their teeth when feeling stressed.

We’re seeing an increase in patients with TMJ and tinnitus as COVID-19 continues. The stress and anxiety from the pandemic are causing patients to experience TMJ and tinnitus for the first time.

This stresses the jawbone and puts pressure on the teeth and jaw joints. Not only that, but it tenses the jaw muscles, and that tension might be the real source of the TMJ tinnitus. The type of TMJ that’s most strongly linked to tinnitus is muscle tension causing jaw and face pain, so it makes sense that stress would amp up related TMJ.

Practicing yoga, relaxation therapy, meditation, and other stress-reducing activities can help reduce your TMJ and tinnitus symptoms. 

Is Your Tinnitus Linked to TMJ?

But your big question is probably: but what about me? Is my tinnitus linked to TMJ? The first sign your TMJ has a link to tinnitus is if it gets worse when you’re stressed.

In addition, watch for other TMJ symptoms, like:

If you have these symptoms, then you should suspect TMJ.

And, as we’ve noted above, tinnitus is very common in people with TMJ. In some studies, more than 90% of tinnitus cases had links to muscle face pain, including TMJ. That means getting tested for TMJ is a good idea if you have tinnitus.

Can TMJ Treatment Cure Tinnitus?

Yes! With the right TMJ treatment, you can reduce or eliminate TMJ tinnitus. Once we help alleviate stress to the TM joint, it’s very likely your tinnitus will go away. According to studies from the past 50 years, 69% of patients see a noticeable improvement in their tinnitus with TMJ treatment.

If you are looking for a TMJ dentist in Spokane who can treat your TMJ and tinnitus, please call (509) 532-1111 today for an appointment with a neuromuscular dentist at Collins Dentistry & Aesthetics.

What is that ringing in my ear – the difference between tinnitus and TMJ

Ringing in the ears can vary from unpleasant to seriously detrimental. Because ringing in the ears is a common symptom of more than one condition, people with tinnitus or TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) might have trouble telling which one they actually have.

In moments of silence, all you want to hear is silence. However, many people get the opposite. They might experience a high-pitched ringing, a constant tone, or even a roar. This sound is ongoing and prevents them from focusing or relaxing. This is tinnitus, a condition that causes distracting tones when the person isn’t talking or listening to something.

However, this ringing can also be a symptom of TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disorder. Because afflictions of the jaw can affect hearing, TMJ can result in tinnitus for some people. In fact, nearly half of those suffering from TMJ report some form of tinnitus.

Tinnitus and TMJ

As mentioned above, tinnitus is characterised as persistent and distracting ringing in the ears. This can be caused by a number of factors, including hearing loss, blockages in the ear canal, and sudden exposure to loud noises. Tinnitus can be temporary, but permanent cases are very common. There are ways to reduce this problem and mask the ringing, and many cases of tinnitus can be avoided with proper aural health.

Meanwhile, TMJ refers to a condition that afflicts the temporomandibular joint. The disk in this joint is responsible for connecting the bones of your jaw, allowing you to speak, chew, and open your mouth. When this joint is damaged, it can cause ringing in the ears, among other symptoms.

Tinnitus can also be a symptom of TMJ, which can lead to confusion between the two conditions. Someone with TMJ might mistake their tinnitus as an independent problem, and neglect to treat their jaw condition. In order to properly diagnose TMJ, one has to know the difference between tinnitus and TMJ.

How to Tell the Difference

Identifying TMJ is easy, especially if you regularly feel pain in your face or jaw. Those with TMJ may also have trouble chewing or opening their mouth, and the joint may lock up or click. This can make it difficult for them to open their mouth past a certain point, and forcing their jaw open might lead to pain. TMJ is common in people with arthritis, or people that have suffered an impact to their face.

Because the temporomandibular joint is so close to the ear, afflictions of this disk might lead to tinnitus. The best way to determine if your tinnitus is caused by TMJ is to consult a dentist for an appropriate examination and diagnosis.

If you think you might have TMJ, it’s best to visit a dentist about this issue. If you treat your TMJ properly, your tinnitus will likely lessen.

If you do not regularly experience jaw pain, it’s unlikely that you are suffering from TMJ. This narrows down your diagnosis to regular tinnitus. If you are suffering from a persistent ringing in your ears, it might be time to get a tinnitus diagnosis. An ENT specialist can give you the advice and care you need.

In order to find an HCP in your area, you might rely on referrals from your family doctor. However, you can also go to an HCP directly for advice and treatment. If you’re not sure where to start, the Signia store locator can help you find reliable hearing care professionals in your area. The interactive map provides directions and information so you can assess your options before scheduling an appointment.

90,000 Tinnitus. When is tinnitus? How to get rid of tinnitus?

The most common complaint in temporomandibular joint dysfunction is jaw clicking, accompanying mouth opening, yawning, and eating. Clicks are so pronounced that others can hear them, and pain does not necessarily appear. Crunching, crackling, crepitus may also be present.

The range of sound phenomena heard by the patient is quite wide: it can be whistling, grinding, humming, ringing, chirping, squelching, clicking, and many other effects.People describe them based on their associations (for example, the sound of falling drops, the sound of the sea, the murmur of water, etc.). The noise can be felt all the time, or it can be interspersed with quiet periods. It is noteworthy that the slightest movement of the head, shoulders, tongue and even eyes can provoke sounds.

Reasons

Usually, with TMJ dysfunction, there are disturbances in the work of the masticatory muscles: they are either spasmodic or are in hypertonicity. Together with changes in the pressure in the oral and ear cavities, this factor causes a narrowing or widening of the lumen of the Eustachian tubes (the canal that connects the pharynx and the middle ear).The air, passing through this constantly changing channel in size, trembles and generates sound of different frequency and intensity. If the auditory ossicles move along with this, the sound becomes more pronounced and takes on the character of clicks, crackling and sometimes even rumbling. Particularly impressionable patients focus on sound effects and for this reason they cannot concentrate on other matters, work, irritability, fatigue appears, and sleep is disturbed.

Treatment

Getting rid of tinnitus is possible only by treating the underlying problem, namely TMJ dysfunction.

1. The neuromuscular approach is widely used here: electroneurostimulation is prescribed to relieve tension in various muscle groups, including the tympanic membrane tensioners and the muscles that lift the soft palate.
2. Splinting helps to restore muscle tone and eliminate tinnitus, as the muscles relax and the pressure in the oral and ear cavities is equalized.
3. An important factor is the presence of a narrowing of the upper jaw, because the muscle responsible for raising the soft palate will be tense in this case. This muscle is directly connected to the tensioner muscle of the tympanic membrane, and therefore can affect its tone as well, causing tinnitus. As a result, it may sometimes be necessary to wear orthodontic appliances to expand the upper jaw in order to normalize muscle tone and eliminate sound effects heard by the patient.
4. Also, doctors recommend refraining from listening to loud music for the period of treatment, in particular with headphones, trying to protect the hearing organs from excessive sound load, and the jaw from excessive chewing tension.

Thus, the normalization of muscle tone, occlusion and the creation of an optimal trajectory of movement of the lower jaw will restore the functions of the temporomandibular joint and get rid of unwanted sound and other effects associated with this pathology.

• Therapy and hygiene

• Surgery

• Prosthetics, implantation

Optional

90,000 Ringing or squeaking in the ears or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction?

Ringing (squeaking) in the ears can range from simply unpleasant to seriously disturbing and intrusive. Since tinitus itself is often a symptom of many other diseases, it is sometimes difficult to determine what exactly is bothering a patient with TMJ or just tinitus.

In moments of silence, all you want to hear is silence. However, many people get the opposite. They may have high-pitched ringing, constant noise, or even roaring. This sound is constant and makes it difficult for them to focus or relax. Tinnitus, a condition that causes distracting sounds when a person is not speaking or listening to something.

However, it can also be a symptom of TMJ or temporomandibular joint disorder. Because jaw lesions can affect hearing, TMJ can cause tinnitus in some people. In fact, almost half of those suffering from TMJ report some form of tinnitus.

Tinitus and TMJ

Often squeak appears, it becomes intrusive and distracting. Its appearance can be caused by many factors, including hearing loss, the presence of a wax plug in the ear canal, and the result of sudden exposure to excessive noise.

Tinitus may be temporary, or it may have more serious causes, in which case the usual disguise is indispensable. Any treatment for tinnitus begins with identifying the causes.

Meanwhile, TMJ refers to a condition that affects the temporomandibular joint. The disc in this joint is responsible for connecting the jaw bones, allowing you to speak, chew, and open your mouth. When this joint is damaged, it can cause tinnitus, among other symptoms.

Such an obsessive state with sounds can also be a manifestation of TMJ, and this often confuses the specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of symptoms. Someone with dysfunction may accept ringing as a concomitant condition, and this may be a condition of tinnitus, independent of the diagnosis. And to eliminate intrusive sound sensations, it is necessary to correctly determine the diagnosis and the root cause.

How to distinguish

1) Identifying TMJ is easy, especially if you regularly experience pain in your face or jaw.

2) Those with TMJ may also have trouble chewing or opening their mouth, and the joint may pinch or snap. This can make it difficult for them to open their mouths, and opening the jaw can lead to pain.

3) TMJ is common in people with arthritis or facial injuries.

Because the temporomandibular joint is very close to the ear, damage to this disc can lead to tinnitus. The best way to determine if TMJ tinnitus is caused is to see your dentist for an appropriate examination and diagnosis.

If you are correctly diagnosed and treated with TMJ, your tinnitus is likely to decrease. If you do not regularly feel pain in your jaws, it is unlikely that you have TMJ, which means that you are simply concerned about tinitus. Your ENT doctor can give you the advice and help you need.

90,000 Whistling in the ears, treatment – a question from a patient of the GUTA CLINIC medical center

Functional diagnostics and ultrasound

Dudin
Mikhail Mikhailovich

Ultrasound diagnostics doctor

Karpochev
Maxim Viktorovich

Leading doctor of ultrasound diagnostics

Baranova
Yulia Viktorovna

Obstetrician-gynecologist, gynecologist-endocrinologist, doctor of ultrasound diagnostics

Frolovskaya
Lyudmila Viktorovna

Obstetrician-gynecologist, ultrasound doctor

Bazarnova
Evgeniya Vasilievna

Ultrasound doctor

Basakov
Kirill Sergeevich

Surgeon-mammologist, ultrasound doctor, radiologist

Radiology

Kivasev
Stanislav Alexandrovich

Radiologist, Deputy Director for Radiation Diagnostics

Paramedics
Mikhail Viktorovich

Radiologist, head. the Department. radiation diagnostics

Nechaev
Valentin Alexandrovich

Radiologist

Basarboliev
Alexey Viktorovich

Radiologist

Tikhonova
Valeria Sergeevna

Radiologist

Mukhin
Andrey Andreevich

Radiologist

Gribkova
Maria Sergeevna

Radiologist

Krysanova
Alexandra Vladimirovna

Radiologist

Vasilyeva
Yulia Nikolaevna

Radiologist

Schultz
Evgeniy Igorevich

Radiologist

Zvezdina
Daria Maksimovna

Radiologist

Therapy

Gorbacheva
Elena Vladimirovna

Cardiologist, therapist

Kardanova
Olga Dmitrievna

Cardiologist, therapist (leading specialist)

Shashkova
Tatiana Valerievna

Therapist, cardiologist, physiciandiagnostics

Komissarenko
Irina Arsenievna

Gastroenterologist, therapist, cardiologist

Kuskunova
Evgenia Alexandrovna

Therapist

Mikheikina
Irina Vasilievna

Therapist

Pulmonology

Physiotherapy

Motherland
Elena Vyacheslavovna

Physiotherapist

Khan
Innokenty Evgenievich

Exercise therapy doctor

Cardiology

Gorbacheva
Elena Vladimirovna

Cardiologist, therapist

Kardanova
Olga Dmitrievna

Cardiologist, therapist (leading specialist)

Shashkova
Tatiana Valerievna

Therapist, cardiologist, physiciandiagnostics

Komissarenko
Irina Arsenievna

Gastroenterologist, therapist, cardiologist

Vetrova
Zarema Davletovna

Cardiologist, doctor of functional diagnostics

Andreev
Dmitry Alexandrovich

Cardiologist

Audiology and hearing aid

Paukova
Marina Vladimirovna

Audiologist-otorhinolaryngologist

Koltysheva
Ekaterina Borisovna

Functional diagnostics doctor

Levina
Yulia Viktorovna

Audiologist-otorhinolaryngologist

Neurology and manual therapy

Zamergrad
Maxim Valerievich

Neurologist, Consultant at the Vertigo and Balance Center

Nebozhin
Alexander Ivanovich

Chiropractor, neurologist

Ivanova
Tatiana Andreevna

Neurologist, specialist at the Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders

Ekusheva
Evgeniya Viktorovna

Neurologist-algologist

Tolsteneva
Alexandra Igorevna

Neurologist, pediatric neurologist

Novikov
Sergey Alexandrovich

Neurologist

Laboratory services

Dermatology and Trichology

Telesheva
Irina Vadimovna

Dermatologist, trichologist, cosmetologist

Zakharova
Natalia Viktorovna

Dermatologist, trichologist, cosmetologist

Massage

Ermush
Stanislav Gennadievich

Masseur

Endocrinology

Bakhteeva
Irina Vladimirovna

Endocrinologist

Allergology-Immunology

Kazulina
Irina Evgenievna

Allergist-immunologist

Hospital

Gnelitsa
Nikolay Viktorovich

Anesthesiologist-resuscitator

Dobrolyubov
Evgeniy Evgenievich

Anesthesiologist-resuscitator

Tsyba
Nikolay Alexandrovich

Anesthesiologist-resuscitator

Phlebology

Leus
Anton Evgenievich

Cardiovascular surgeon

Cosmetology

Telesheva
Irina Vadimovna

Dermatologist, trichologist, cosmetologist

Zakharova
Natalia Viktorovna

Dermatologist, trichologist, cosmetologist

Hepatology

Komissarenko
Irina Arsenievna

Gastroenterologist, therapist, cardiologist

Mukhamedzhanova
Elvira Ravilovna

Gastroenterologist

Gynecology

Dushkina
Irina Aleksandrovna

Obstetrician-gynecologist, gynecologist-endocrinologist

Gorsky
Sergei Leonidovich

Leading gynecologist

Egorova
Elena Anatolyevna

Obstetrician-gynecologist, gynecologist-endocrinologist

Afanasiev
Maxim Stanislavovich

Obstetrician-gynecologist, gynecological oncologist

Baranova
Yulia Viktorovna

Obstetrician-gynecologist, gynecologist-endocrinologist, doctor of ultrasound diagnostics

Frolovskaya
Lyudmila Viktorovna

Obstetrician-gynecologist, ultrasound doctor

Proctology

Mormyshev
Vyacheslav Nikolaevich

Proctologist

Petruk
Maxim Nikolaevich

Proctologist

Pediatrics

Varenkova
Olga Vladimirovna

Otorhinolaryngologist

Poddo
Galina Nikolaevna

Psychotherapist (leading specialist)

Nebozhin
Alexander Ivanovich

Chiropractor, neurologist

Markina
Elena Alexandrovna

Nephrologist, Head of the Nephrology Center

Strings
Irina Viktorovna

Pediatrician, neonatologist

Telesheva
Irina Vadimovna

Dermatologist, trichologist, cosmetologist

Boluchevsky
Dmitry Nikolaevich

Urologist-andrologist, pediatric urologist-andrologist

Frolovskaya
Lyudmila Viktorovna

Obstetrician-gynecologist, ultrasound doctor

Malysheva
Olga Dmitrievna

Operating otorhinolaryngologist

Shaforostova
Ekaterina Vasilievna

Dentist-orthodontist

Tolsteneva
Alexandra Igorevna

Neurologist, pediatric neurologist

Margieva
Diana Anatolievna

Pediatric urologist-andrologist, surgeon

Tsibikov
Ilya Vladimirovich

Orthopedist-traumatologist

Krivorotko
Mikhail Sergeevich

Orthopedist-traumatologist

Shcherbakova
Elena Mikhailovna

Children’s ophthalmologist

Endoscopy

Mardachev
Oleg Alexandrovich

Endoscopist

Khaidurova
Tatiana Konstantinovna

Endoscopist

Center for Traumatology and Orthopedics

ENT (otorhinolaryngology)

Varenkova
Olga Vladimirovna

Otorhinolaryngologist

Markovskaya
Natalia Gennadievna

Otorhinolaryngologist

Kharina
Daria Vsevolodovna

Otorhinolaryngologist, phoniatrist

Miroshnichenko
Andrey Petrovich

Operating otorhinolaryngologist,

Korshunova
Natalia Alexandrovna

Otorhinolaryngologist

Malysheva
Olga Dmitrievna

Operating otorhinolaryngologist

Jafarova
Maryam Zaurovna

Operating otorhinolaryngologist

Gastroenterology

Komissarenko
Irina Arsenievna

Gastroenterologist, therapist, cardiologist

Mukhamedzhanova
Elvira Ravilovna

Gastroenterologist

Urology-Andrology

Dolzhenok
Andrey Nikolaevich

Urologist-andrologist

Boluchevsky
Dmitry Nikolaevich

Urologist-andrologist, pediatric urologist-andrologist

Margieva
Diana Anatolievna

Pediatric urologist-andrologist, surgeon

Shamov
Denis Alekseevich

Urologist – andrologist

Dentistry. Therapy

Orlova
Elizaveta Sergeevna

Dentist therapist, pediatric dentist

Babkina
Ekaterina Sergeevna

Dentist therapist

Sizova
Elizaveta Igorevna

Dentist therapist

Surgery

Trofimova
Olga Viktorovna

Surgeon

Tumanov
Andrey Borisovich

Surgeon

Kiparisov
Vladislav Borisovich

Surgeon

Terekhin
Alexey Alexeevich

Surgeon

Psychotherapy

Poddo
Galina Nikolaevna

Psychotherapist (leading specialist)

Ophthalmology

Mironkova
Elena Alexandrovna

Ophthalmologist

Parshunina
Olga Alekseevna

Ophthalmologist, retinologist. laser surgeon

Vereshchagin
Lev Vladislavovich

Ophthalmologist

Kibizova
Laura Georgievna

Ophthalmologist

Shcherbakova
Elena Mikhailovna

Children’s ophthalmologist

Center of dizziness and imbalance

Paukova
Marina Vladimirovna

Audiologist-otorhinolaryngologist

Zamergrad
Maxim Valerievich

Neurologist, Consultant at the Vertigo and Balance Center

Koltysheva
Ekaterina Borisovna

Functional diagnostics doctor

Melnikov
Oleg Anatolyevich

Otoneurologist, Head of the Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders

Ivanova
Tatiana Andreevna

Neurologist, specialist at the Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders

Traumatology and orthopedics

Stepanov
Andrey Borisovich

Traumatologist-orthopedist

Gerasimov
Denis Olegovich

Traumatologist-orthopedic surgeon, leading specialist

Tsibikov
Ilya Vladimirovich

Orthopedist-traumatologist

Krivorotko
Mikhail Sergeevich

Orthopedist-traumatologist

Nikolaev
Anton Valerievich

Orthopedist-traumatologist

Zagorodny
Nikolay Vasilievich

Traumatologist-orthopedist

MRI Ingenia 3. 0T

Kivasev
Stanislav Alexandrovich

Radiologist, Deputy Director for Radiation Diagnostics

Paramedics
Mikhail Viktorovich

Radiologist, head.the Department. radiation diagnostics

Nechaev
Valentin Alexandrovich

Radiologist

Basarboliev
Alexey Viktorovich

Radiologist

Tikhonova
Valeria Sergeevna

Radiologist

Mukhin
Andrey Andreevich

Radiologist

Gribkova
Maria Sergeevna

Radiologist

Krysanova
Alexandra Vladimirovna

Radiologist

Vasilyeva
Yulia Nikolaevna

Radiologist

Schultz
Evgeniy Igorevich

Radiologist

Zvezdina
Daria Maksimovna

Radiologist

Computed tomography

Kivasev
Stanislav Alexandrovich

Radiologist, Deputy Director for Radiation Diagnostics

Paramedics
Mikhail Viktorovich

Radiologist, head. the Department. radiation diagnostics

Nechaev
Valentin Alexandrovich

Radiologist

Basarboliev
Alexey Viktorovich

Radiologist

Tikhonova
Valeria Sergeevna

Radiologist

Mukhin
Andrey Andreevich

Radiologist

Gribkova
Maria Sergeevna

Radiologist

Krysanova
Alexandra Vladimirovna

Radiologist

Vasilyeva
Yulia Nikolaevna

Radiologist

Schultz
Evgeniy Igorevich

Radiologist

Zvezdina
Daria Maksimovna

Radiologist

Mammography

Kivasev
Stanislav Alexandrovich

Radiologist, Deputy Director for Radiation Diagnostics

Krysanova
Alexandra Vladimirovna

Radiologist

Basakov
Kirill Sergeevich

Surgeon-mammologist, ultrasound doctor, radiologist

Densitometry

Kivasev
Stanislav Alexandrovich

Radiologist, Deputy Director for Radiation Diagnostics

Paramedics
Mikhail Viktorovich

Radiologist, head. the Department. radiation diagnostics

Nechaev
Valentin Alexandrovich

Radiologist

Basarboliev
Alexey Viktorovich

Radiologist

Tikhonova
Valeria Sergeevna

Radiologist

Mukhin
Andrey Andreevich

Radiologist

Gribkova
Maria Sergeevna

Radiologist

Zvezdina
Daria Maksimovna

Radiologist

Nephrology

Markina
Elena Alexandrovna

Nephrologist, Head of the Nephrology Center

Nephrology Center

Pediatric dentistry

Orlova
Elizaveta Sergeevna

Dentist therapist, pediatric dentist

Dentistry. Surgery

Kulish
Alexander Alexandrovich

Dentist-surgeon, implantologist

Dentistry.Orthopedics

Bogoslovsky
Vladimir Alexandrovich

Dentist-orthopedist

Zakharchenko
Alexander Valerievich

Dentist-orthopedist

COVID-19 Diagnostics

Mammology

Basakov
Kirill Sergeevich

Surgeon-mammologist, ultrasound doctor, radiologist

Online doctor consultation from 1490 ₽

Paukova
Marina Vladimirovna

Audiologist-otorhinolaryngologist

Varenkova
Olga Vladimirovna

Otorhinolaryngologist

Kardanova
Olga Dmitrievna

Cardiologist, therapist (leading specialist)

Markovskaya
Natalia Gennadievna

Otorhinolaryngologist

Shashkova
Tatiana Valerievna

Therapist, cardiologist, physiciandiagnostics

Poddo
Galina Nikolaevna

Psychotherapist (leading specialist)

Komissarenko
Irina Arsenievna

Gastroenterologist, therapist, cardiologist

Levina
Yulia Viktorovna

Audiologist-otorhinolaryngologist

Ivanova
Tatiana Andreevna

Neurologist, specialist at the Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders

Mironkova
Elena Alexandrovna

Ophthalmologist

Markina
Elena Alexandrovna

Nephrologist, Head of the Nephrology Center

Bakhteeva
Irina Vladimirovna

Endocrinologist

Strings
Irina Viktorovna

Pediatrician, neonatologist

Korshunova
Natalia Alexandrovna

Otorhinolaryngologist

Petruk
Maxim Nikolaevich

Proctologist

Malysheva
Olga Dmitrievna

Operating otorhinolaryngologist

Tumanov
Andrey Borisovich

Surgeon

Deposit system

Home help service

Slashcheva
Olga Mikhailovna

therapist

Korshunova
Natalia Alexandrovna

Otorhinolaryngologist

Medical certificates

Dentistry. Implantology

Kulish
Alexander Alexandrovich

Dentist-surgeon, implantologist

MRI open type

Kivasev
Stanislav Alexandrovich

Radiologist, Deputy Director for Radiation Diagnostics

Paramedics
Mikhail Viktorovich

Radiologist, head. the Department. radiation diagnostics

Nechaev
Valentin Alexandrovich

Radiologist

Basarboliev
Alexey Viktorovich

Radiologist

Tikhonova
Valeria Sergeevna

Radiologist

Mukhin
Andrey Andreevich

Radiologist

Gribkova
Maria Sergeevna

Radiologist

Krysanova
Alexandra Vladimirovna

Radiologist

Vasilyeva
Yulia Nikolaevna

Radiologist

Schultz
Evgeniy Igorevich

Radiologist

Zvezdina
Daria Maksimovna

Radiologist

Mammology Center

Dentistry. Orthodontics

Shaforostova
Ekaterina Vasilievna

Dentist-orthodontist

Vaccination against COVID-19

90,000 Tinnitus.Causes and methods of treatment

The concept of “tinnitus” came to us from the Latin language and in translation means “ringing or tinnitus”. This noise can be extremely different. It ranges from a low hum and heartbeat to high-pitched squeaks and tones. Tinnitus can be perceived in one ear, in both ears, or felt as a noise in the head.

Is tinnitus a social illness?

Tinnitus can rightfully be called a social disease.Although it is actually a symptom (such as a fever or pain) and not a disease in the true sense of the word, tinnitus can develop into a disease in its own right under certain circumstances. In complex decompensated tinnitus, tinnitus is accompanied by other symptoms, such as depressed mood, sleep disturbances, lack of concentration, anxiety symptoms and various somatic complaints.

Signs of tinnitus and causes of the disease

The question about the causes of tinnitus is asked very often, but it is not easy to answer it.It is impossible to say specifically how you can protect yourself from acute hearing loss and / or tinnitus. Except perhaps the noise, which is one of the main reasons. A healthy lifestyle can also help keep us from getting tinnitus.

Often, tinnitus occurs temporarily after intense stress, including noise. If this stress stops and the person has the opportunity to rest in silence, then the tinnitus disappears. But if these situations occur frequently, they can lead to persistent tinnitus.Occasional tinnitus can also be caused by treatment with certain medications.

Unfortunately, tinnitus is an accompanying symptom of many other diseases that have nothing to do with the ear, such as multiple sclerosis, metabolic disorders, heart rhythm disorders, thyroid diseases, allergies, dental and jaw problems, spinal injuries, etc. .d. This list can be continued for a long time. All kinds of combinations of different diseases should be added to it.

An important aspect that I would like to emphasize is progressive hearing loss, which most people simply do not notice. For them, the foreground is tinnitus, which they want to get rid of without fail. Therefore, patients often refuse various measures, such as hearing aids and other therapies that require their active participation. All they want is a tinnitus pill.

The exact cause of tinnitus in many cases cannot be determined.Except in those cases when it is a consequence of acute sensorineural hearing loss or other ear diseases (otosclerosis, otitis media, hereditary diseases leading to hearing loss up to complete deafness, swelling, etc.). Noise is one of the main causes of hearing damage and tinnitus today. More than 50% of young people from time to time feel “ringing” after listening to music that is too loud.

Acute and chronic tinnitus

First, we need to establish the difference between acute and chronic tinnitus, and in the case of acute tinnitus, between objective tinnitus, which can be heard by others, and subjective tinnitus, which we mainly discuss.Objective tinnitus can in most cases be corrected with surgical and other medical procedures. In the acute stage of subjective tinnitus, i.e. immediately after its first manifestation and within the first three months, it makes sense to conduct an accurate diagnosis and therapy. In this case, it is necessary to diagnose not only the hearing organs, but also other important functional areas of the body. Based on the results of the examination, the doctor will prescribe treatment. In doing so, otolaryngologists rely on the “Guidelines for Acute Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Tinnitus” developed by the Society of Otolaryngology.

Age structure with tinnitus

The age structure can be described from the results of our epidemiological study. Of course, with age, the likelihood of developing any kind of health problem, which includes tinnitus, increases. But there are also young people who suffer from tinnitus, which especially bothers them and limits them at the very beginning of their professional life. All patients experience the same basic fear: “What is behind tinnitus, what a serious disease?” Therefore, the first step is to conduct a conversation with patients, free them from fear and explain the mechanism of tinnitus, regardless of the reason for its occurrence. After all, it is in stressful situations, with stress and physical exertion, that tinnitus is further enhanced.

Young people express the following concerns: “What will happen if I start talking about tinnitus at work? What will become of my career? ” Unfortunately, many of these fears are justified.

Recently, transient tinnitus has been increasingly diagnosed in children. But in many cases, parents who have tinnitus themselves are to blame for their child’s focus on tinnitus.For example, after a middle ear infection or after a rock concert, short-term tinnitus may occur, which usually disappears. Other causes include poor posture and school stress, as well as acoustic classroom conditions, social relationships, and parental pressure to achieve a successful maturity certificate from a child. In conversation with parents, it is often found that tinnitus is more intimidating to adults than to the child.

Evolution of tinnitus therapy

There is still no cure for tinnitus. But there are effective therapeutic methods such as retraining therapy, distraction therapy, etc. The range of methods requiring active patient participation is quite wide. This includes the use of masking noise, prosthetics with hearing aids, awareness training with yoga, etc., and even psychotherapy. Experience shows that cognitive behavioral therapy is most successful.

There are many studies currently underway that study the effects of drugs, music therapy, sound therapy, magnetic field therapy, direct magnetic stimulation, antiphase noise, etc.But when conducting any research, it is imperative to take into account what the patient is like, what could have caused him tinnitus, how long he suffers from it, what is the state of his hearing, what other diseases can play a role in this process, etc.

Only when all these aspects are taken into account can targeted treatment begin. Because: “You should always treat the person, not tinnitus.” In our experience, the main therapeutic problem is that doctors indiscriminately apply different methods of treatment, like “shooting with a shot”, regardless of the patient’s state of health or his personality. They do not sufficiently distinguish which therapeutic method is appropriate for each patient. But numerous studies suggest that new treatments should emerge in the coming years.

Elke Knor,

President of the German Tinnitus League

Ear Noise

This article focuses on such a phenomenon as tinnitus – a sensation of noise or ringing in the ears. This is the auditory sensation of an annoying sound when there are no external sounds.It is a fairly common problem and can affect up to one in five people. Tinnitus is usually not an independent condition, but is more often a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as age-related hearing loss, ear injury, or circulatory disorder.

Tinnitus are of this type:

• ringing,
• buzz,
• buzz,
• hiss,

90,015 clicks,

• whistle.

The noise can range from a low hum to a high whistle and may be felt in one or both ears. In some cases, the noise can be so loud that it makes it difficult to focus or hear the real sound. Tinnitus may be present all the time or it may be transient.

There are two types of tinnitus:

Subjective tinnitus is tinnitus that only you can hear. This is the most common type of tinnitus. It can be caused by problems in your outer, middle, or inner ear. It can also be caused by problems with the auditory nerves or subsequent parts of the brain that interpret nerve signals as sound sensations.

Objective tinnitus is a noise that can be heard by an outside observer or research equipment during an examination. This is a rare type of tinnitus that can be caused by abnormal blood vessels, ossicles, or muscle contractions.

Various diseases can cause or worsen tinnitus. Unfortunately, in many cases, the exact cause is never found.

The most common cause of tinnitus is damage to the inner hair cells.The tiny, delicate “hairs” of these cells in your inner ear vibrate under the pressure of sound waves. This causes the hair cells to send an electrical signal along the auditory nerve to the brain, and the brain interprets these signals as sound. If these “hairs” in the inner ear are “bent” or “broken,” they can send random electrical impulses to the brain, causing tinnitus.

More rare causes of tinnitus are: other ear diseases, chronic diseases of the body, injuries or conditions that affect the nerves inside the ear or the auditory centers in the brain.

Many people have tinnitus caused by one or more of the following:

• Age related hearing loss. Without exception, everyone’s hearing deteriorates with age. Many people, usually from 60-65 years old, already have such problems. This hearing loss can also cause tinnitus.
• Exposure to loud sound. Loud noise from objects such as heavy equipment, construction tools, firearms is a common cause of ear noise.Portable music devices with headphones, such as MP3 players and telephones, can also cause noise-induced hearing loss if played loudly for extended periods of time. Tinnitus caused by short-term exposure to sound, such as attending a loud concert, usually resolves quickly, but prolonged exposure to loud sound can cause permanent damage.
• Sulfur plug. Earwax protects the ear canal by trapping dirt and inhibiting the growth of bacteria.When too much of it builds up, or when cotton swabs are used to cleanse the ear canals, a blockage can occur. This causes hearing loss or inflammation of the eardrum, which can lead to tinnitus.
• Changes in the bone tissue of the ear. Changes in ear bone density during otosclerosis can affect hearing and cause tinnitus. This is a condition that is manifested by abnormal bone growth and tends to be inherited.

Some causes of tinnitus are less common, including:

• Meniere’s disease.Tinnitus may be an early diagnostic sign of Ménière’s disease, an inner ear disease in which the fluid pressure of the inner ear increases excessively.
• Problems with the temporomandibular joint. Disorders in this joint, which is in front of the ears on both sides, where the lower jaw connects to the base of the skull, can also cause tinnitus.
• Injury to the head or neck injury. Injury to the head or neck can affect the inner ear, auditory nerves, or hearing-related brain functions.These injuries usually only cause noise in one ear.
• Acoustic neuroma. This benign tumor develops on the auditory nerve, which is located between the inner ear and the brain. This condition also usually causes tinnitus in only one ear.

In rare cases, tinnitus is caused by abnormal blood vessels:

• Atherosclerosis. As cholesterol and other deposits build up, the large blood vessels close to the middle and inner ear lose some of their elasticity – the ability to bend or expand slightly with each heartbeat.This causes the blood to flow more strongly, and this allows the ear to hear these blows. This tinnitus is usually heard in both ears.
• Tumors of the head and neck. A tumor that compresses blood vessels in the head or neck or a vascular mass can cause tinnitus.
• High blood pressure. Hypertension and factors that increase blood pressure such as stress, alcohol, caffeine can make tinnitus more noticeable.
• Turbulent blood flow. Narrowing or kinking of cervical arteries (such as the carotid artery) or veins in the neck (such as the jugular vein) can cause turbulent, abnormal blood flow, leading to tinnitus.
• Capillary malformation. Arteriovenous malformation, a condition caused by abnormal connections between arteries and veins, can lead to tinnitus. It usually occurs in only one ear.

A number of drugs can cause or worsen tinnitus.Generally, the higher the dose of these drugs, the worse the tinnitus gets. The noise often disappears when the use of these drugs is stopped.

Known drugs that cause or worsen tinnitus:

• Antibiotics, including polymyxin B, erythromycin, vancomycin, and neomycin.
• Medicines used in oncology, including cisplatin, mechlorethamine and vincristine.
• Diuretics such as bumetanide, ethacrynic acid, or furosemide.
• Quinine preparations used to treat malaria.
• Certain antidepressants.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Aspirin, especially when taken in high doses.

Anyone can experience tinnitus, but these factors can increase the risk:

• Loud noise exposure. Prolonged exposure to loud noise can damage the tiny, sensitive hair cells in the ear that transmit sound to the brain.People who work in noisy environments, such as factory and construction workers, musicians, and the military, are at particular risk.
• Age. As we age, the number of functioning nerve fibers in the ears decreases, causing hearing problems often associated with tinnitus.
• Floor. Men are more likely to experience tinnitus.
• Smoking. Smokers have a higher risk of developing tinnitus.
• Cardiovascular problems. Conditions that affect circulation, such as high blood pressure or vasoconstriction (atherosclerosis), can increase the risk of tinnitus.

Tinnitus can significantly affect your quality of life. But it affects people in different ways. If there is tinnitus, then the person may experience:

• fatigue,
• stress,
• sleep problems,
• increased fears,
• memory problems,
• depressed,
• anxiety and irritability.

When to see a doctor?

If you have tinnitus that is troublesome.
If, after a cold, you hear tinnitus, and it does not go away within a week.
If you have tinnitus that comes on suddenly or for no apparent reason.
If you experience hearing loss or dizziness accompanied by tinnitus.

In many cases, tinnitus is the result of something that cannot be prevented. However, some precautions can prevent certain types of tinnitus.

• Wearing hearing protection.Over time, exposure to loud noise can damage the hair cells in the ears, causing hearing loss and noise. If you use chainsaws, trimmers, repair tools, are a musician, work in industry or agriculture that use loud technology, or use a firearm – always wear hearing protection.
• Make it quieter. Prolonged exposure to loud music at concerts without ear protection or listening to music with headphones at very high volumes can cause hearing loss and cause ringing in the ears.
• Take care of your health. Regular exercise, proper nutrition, and other health measures can help prevent tinnitus, especially associated with blood vessel abnormalities.

What the sounds of our body say

Gurgling in the stomach, crunching in the shoulders, whistling in the nose, tinnitus, pounding in the head and clicking in the jaw can not only irritate or confuse people, but also indicate various diseases. The Daily Mail published an article on the sounds of the human body and the reasons why they are heard.Some can be alarming.

Gurgling in the stomach

Any food we eat travels eight meters of the intestines. In order for it to move forward, the intestinal walls contract – and sometimes there is a loud and annoying gurgling sound. In medicine, it is called borborigmus. Colin Rees, a professor of gastroenterology at Newcastle University, explained that this sound is loudest at the junction of the small and large intestines.

Hubbing also occurs when a person is hungry.The brain sends signals and the stomach secretes gastric juice, which mixes “loudly” with the air. In itself, this is harmless and completely normal. But if the sounds are accompanied by bloating or abdominal pain, then they may indicate irritable bowel syndrome and become a reason for a visit to the doctor.

Tinnitus

About seven million people on the planet constantly hear ringing or buzzing in their ears. This is more common in older people. The reason may lie in age-related hearing loss, explained Simon Lloyd, ENT surgeon at the Royal Manchester Asylum.The phenomenon is called idiopathic noise. The brain creates it by adapting to age-related changes.

As a rule, tinnitus, although annoying, is not a cause for concern. However, if it becomes rhythmic and pulsating, like a heartbeat, then it can talk about problems with the vessels. Most often – about the narrowing of the carotid artery due to cholesterol plaques.

Whistling and snorting

Whistling in the nose often occurs with a runny nose during a cold. Accumulated mucus or inflamed tissue prevents air from being drawn in silently.However, noted Professor Lloyd, it may be a consequence of tears in the cartilaginous septum between the nostrils. Few people know, but microdamages often occur in it due to injuries, surgery, infections, and even the abuse of drops from the common cold. You can get rid of whistling in the nose with the help of saline sprays and humidifying the air in the rooms. But if this does not help, you need to see a doctor.

Snorting or sighing when awakening can be a sign of apnea – a short-term cessation of breathing during sleep.To escape from suffocation, the body causes such an emergency reaction.

Bumping in the head

If a person wakes up in the morning with a loud banging in their head, this is a sign of Exploding Head Syndrome (EHS), an abnormal perception of noise when the person falls asleep or wakes up. It is a sleep disorder during which loud sounds like banging, shooting, slamming a door, or even exploding are heard during the transition between wakefulness and sleep, or between different sleep phases.

There are several theories of the syndrome, said Andy Dawson, headache specialist at King’s College London.The reasons may lie in stress, migraines or too mobile parts of the ear. If the knock is accompanied by a severe headache that does not go away within half an hour after taking the medicine, you should immediately consult a doctor to rule out hemorrhage due to a bursting vessel in the brain.

Cracking of the shoulders

Cracking or crunching of the shoulders when stretching is a common occurrence. There is fluid around the joints that lubricates them. When a person moves, bubbles appear in it, which burst with a pop or crack.You should visit a doctor if they occur constantly or the joints hurt.

“However, if it is painful, seek medical attention. It could be a tear or injury to the meniscus – the cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between the tibia and the femur, ”said Jamie Arbuthnot, podiatrist at the University Hospital of Birmingham NHS Trust.

Clicks and grinds

Clicks in the jaw occur when a person chews or yawns. Sometimes they do not cause discomfort, but they are often painful.Luc Cascarini, a surgeon at the Guy’s and St Thomas Medical Foundation, explained that they arise from the displacement of cartilaginous discs when the mouth is opened. When the mouth is closed, the discs click back into place. You can get rid of the problem with the help of special mouth guards or exercises to strengthen the muscles around the jaw.

Every tenth resident of Great Britain grinds his teeth in his sleep. This is called bruxism. Grinding occurs due to stress, sleep disturbances, malocclusion, the absence of some teeth and can provoke wear of the enamel, pain in the head or lower jaw.Avoiding alcohol and coffee will normalize sleep, and a mouthguard will protect your teeth from abrasion.

Belching and flatulence

Belching occurs if a person swallows air with food while eating. If it occurs constantly, it can be a sign of indigestion or reflux – when stomach acid splashes down the throat. And this is already a reason for going to the doctor.

Flatulence is normal even for healthy people. But with irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal inflammation, or food allergies, it occurs frequently, with pain, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation.

Temporomandibular joint problems. Why shouldn’t you ignore them?

Temporomandibular joint problems.

Why shouldn’t you ignore them?

Published by
2019-08-02

Pain, crunching in the area of ​​the mandibular joint, difficulty opening the mouth and chewing – are you familiar with the situation? These and similar signs give out dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).Symptoms may not be as obvious. Did you know that ear pain or ringing may actually have nothing to do with the ears? Often, such symptoms indicate precisely the diseases of the mandibular joint. Doctors warn that disorders of the mandibular joint do not go away on their own – if the problem is ignored, pain and discomfort increase, and treatment becomes more difficult.

What causes joint disorders?

The temporomandibular joint supports the position and functions of the lower jaw: opening, closing the mouth, chewing and nibbling.If any of these movements are disturbed, a sensation of pain appears in the jaw joint. People of different ages often face such troubles.

Disorders of the mandibular joint can be congenital or determined by various reasons, such as unwilling gnashing of teeth, improper bite, infections, injuries of the jaw and other reasons. If unpleasant sensations, crunching or pain in the area of ​​the mandibular joint continues and recurs within a month of , you should be concerned and visit an orthopedic odontologist or maxillofacial surgeon.

Problem solutions

When treating the mandibular joint, first of all, the doctor assesses its condition. Additional examinations may be required: computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Efforts will be made to find out what caused the dysfunction of the mandibular composition. Deepening into the causes guarantees the effectiveness of the treatment. After assessing the movements of the joint, muscle tension and establishing the causes of the disorders, the patient is referred to a specialist in the relevant field and he is prescribed the necessary treatment:

• Physiotherapy procedures . If the situation is not difficult, it is recommended to do exercises, in cooperation with other specialists, most often with kinesitherapists, etc.
• Orthodontic treatment. If the problem is caused by an incorrect bite, then orthodontic treatment will be necessary.
• Mouthguards for bruxism. Protects joints and teeth from wear and tear during involuntary grinding.
• Surgical treatment. This is a very broad concept. The scope of surgical treatment depends on the complexity of the situation, the techniques used, the competence of doctors, etc.e. Large-scale surgical treatment may be required only in exceptional, very difficult cases.

It is dangerous to ignore diseases of the mandibular joint. Changes in the joint not only cause pain and discomfort, but can also have a negative effect on the entire body. Temporomandibular joint disorders are a problem to be solved with the help of an experienced professional (s). The method and duration of treatment depend on the cause of the disease and the complexity of the situation.