What is the relationship between TMJ disorders and tinnitus? How do these conditions affect each other and what treatment options are available? Discover the answers to these insightful questions.

Understanding the Link Between TMJ Disorders and Tinnitus

Tinnitus, the perception of ringing, buzzing or other sounds in the ear, is often associated with age-related or noise-induced hearing loss. However, mounting evidence suggests that in some cases, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders may also be a contributing factor to tinnitus, independent of hearing loss.

TMJ disorders are caused by inflammation or irritation of the ligaments and muscles surrounding the jaw joints, which can lead to a variety of symptoms such as clicking or popping sounds in the jaw, pain in the jaw and ear, headaches, and difficulty opening the mouth. Given the proximity of the TMJ to the inner ear, it’s not surprising that these two conditions may be linked.

Prevalence and Characteristics of TMJ-Related Tinnitus

A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis found that the prevalence of tinnitus was significantly higher in individuals with TMJ disorders compared to those without. This may be due to the potential for irritation and inflammation in the TMJ to damage the cochlea and other parts of the inner ear, which can then lead to the perception of tinnitus.

Interestingly, research has also suggested that TMJ-related tinnitus may be more common in younger individuals, particularly those assigned female at birth, compared to the typical tinnitus patient. This subtype of tinnitus is often characterized by severe symptoms, including pain, pressure, and high levels of stress, as well as accompanying symptoms like dizziness, headache, and neck pain.

Mechanisms Underlying the TMJ-Tinnitus Connection

The proposed mechanism behind the TMJ-tinnitus relationship is that the proximity of the TMJ to the inner ear, specifically the cochlea, allows for the transfer of mechanical and neurological signals between the two structures. Irritation and inflammation in the TMJ may potentially damage the sensitive hair cells in the cochlea, leading to the perception of tinnitus.

Additionally, the shared neural pathways between the trigeminal and auditory systems may contribute to the co-occurrence of these conditions. Stimulation of the trigeminal nerve, which innervates the TMJ, can potentially influence the auditory system and lead to the perception of tinnitus.Treating TMJ Disorders to Alleviate Tinnitus

Given the potential link between TMJ disorders and tinnitus, treating the underlying TMJ condition may be an effective approach to alleviating tinnitus symptoms. Potential treatments for TMJ disorders include medications, such as muscle relaxants and antidepressants, a soft food diet, dental treatments like bite realignment and mouth guards, physical therapy, and in some cases, minimally invasive or open joint surgery.

Research has shown that treating TMJ disorders can help reduce tinnitus symptoms in individuals with both conditions. A 2012 study found that movements of the head and jaw, as well as music and sound stimulation, can have a beneficial effect on tinnitus in people with TMJ disorders.

Implications and Future Research

The potential link between TMJ disorders and tinnitus has important implications for the management of these conditions. Clinicians should consider evaluating for TMJ disorders in patients presenting with tinnitus, especially if the tinnitus is accompanied by other symptoms like jaw pain, headaches, or dizziness.

While existing research supports the connection between these two conditions, more studies are needed to further understand the underlying mechanisms and to confirm the effectiveness of treating TMJ disorders as a means of alleviating tinnitus. Ongoing research in this area may lead to improved diagnosis and management strategies for individuals affected by both TMJ disorders and tinnitus.

Conclusion

The relationship between TMJ disorders and tinnitus is an important area of research and clinical consideration. By recognizing the potential link between these conditions and exploring effective treatment approaches, healthcare professionals can better address the needs of patients suffering from both TMJ disorders and tinnitus, ultimately improving their quality of life.

TMJ Disorders and Tinnitus: Relationship and Treatment

Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is largely associated with age- or noise-related hearing loss. Mounting evidence has found that, in a smaller number of cases, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders may be a root cause of tinnitus instead of hearing loss.

People with subjective tinnitus hear disquieting sounds, such as ringing, buzzing, and humming, that are imperceptible to others. This condition becomes more common as people age and begin to lose their hearing.

In contrast, tinnitus associated with TMJ disorders typically affects a younger demographic. It’s also more common in people who were assigned female at birth than those who were assigned male at birth.

In this article, we explore the connection between tinnitus and TMJ disorders. We also discuss potential treatments that may provide relief for both conditions.

TMJs connect your lower jaw (mandible) to your skull on both sides of your face. These joints are located directly in front of your ears. Your TMJs support the jaw muscles needed for eating, yawning, and speaking.

Causes of TMJ disorders

TMJ disorders are caused by inflammation or irritation of the ligaments and muscles surrounding the joints.

Potential causes include:

• grinding teeth during sleep (bruxism)
• arthritis in the jaw
• trauma to the head or neck
• malocclusion (having an overbite or underbite)
• dislocation of the TMJ disk

Symptoms of TMJ disorders

Symptoms of TMJ disorders include:

• clicking or popping sound in jaw
• pain in the jaw and ear
• headache
• difficulty opening your mouth
• jaws that lock in an open or closed position

A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis of multiple studies found that the prevalence of tinnitus was higher in people with TMJ disorders than in people without TMJ disorders. This may be due to the proximity of the inner ear to the TMJ.

A part in the inner ear called the cochlea transforms sound waves into electrical impulses that the brain translates into recognizable sounds. Damage to the hair cells in the cochlea is a catalyst for tinnitus.

Because the cochlea is located next to the temporomandibular joint, irritation and inflammation in the joint may damage the cochlea and other parts of the inner ear. This may cause subjective tinnitus.

Subjective vs objective tinnitus

Subjective tinnitus is the most common form of tinnitus. Noises are heard only by a person with tinnitus and are not generated by an exterior sound source.

Objective tinnitus is a rarer form of tinnitus. The sounds are typically caused by internal circulatory functions (blood flow) or defects in the structures of the ear. The sounds may be loud enough to be heard by another person.

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A 2019 research study found that TMJ and tinnitus often occur together in people who were assigned female at birth and who are younger than the average tinnitus patient.

Tinnitus in this group tends to be severe and accompanied by pain, pressure, and high levels of stress.

Accompanying symptoms include:

• dizziness
• headache
• vertigo
• neck pain
• poor quality of life

Tinnitus related to TMJ disorders is sometimes referred to as a type of somatic tinnitus. Somatic tinnitus is defined as tinnitus that’s caused by a musculoskeletal problem.

Researchers involved in a 2019 study noted that people with tinnitus and TMJ disorders might make up a specific tinnitus subtype. Their reasoning was based on this group’s responsiveness to specific treatments.

A 2012 study noted that people with tinnitus and TMJ disorders were able to reduce tinnitus symptoms through movements of the head and jaw. Music and sound stimulation also had a beneficial effect.

Research data from as far back as 1997 found that treating TMJ disorders helps alleviate tinnitus in people with both conditions. However, recent studies suggest more research is needed to confirm this connection.

Even so, the American Tinnitus Association is in favor of treating TMJ disorders to alleviate tinnitus that’s caused by problems with the joint.

Possible treatments for TMJ disorders

There are several types of treatments for TMJ disorders that may help alleviate both tinnitus and jaw pain. These include:

• medications, such as muscle relaxants and antidepressants
• a soft food diet
• dental treatments, including bite realignment
• mouth guards to prevent tooth grinding
• oral splints to realign the eardrum
• physical therapy to stretch and strengthen jaw muscles
• corticosteroid injections into the joint
• minimally invasive surgical procedures, such as arthrocentesis
• open joint surgery (arthrotomy)

TMJ disorders and tinnitus are challenging conditions that can negatively affect your quality of life. Whether you have TMJ disorders or symptoms of tinnitus in one or both ears, talk with a doctor. This is especially important if you’re having difficulty keeping up with daily activities, or if you feel anxious or depressed.

Treatments exist for both tinnitus and TMJ disorders.

TMJ disorders are often treated by a dental professional. Talk with your current healthcare professional about the type of specialist who’s best suited to treat your symptoms.

Research suggests TMJ disorders are a cause of tinnitus in some instances. People who have both conditions tend to be younger than the average tinnitus patient.

People assigned female at birth also seem to be more affected by TMJ disorders and accompanying tinnitus than people assigned male at birth.

When tinnitus is caused by TMJ disorders, treatments specific to this cause may help alleviate symptoms.

Talk with your doctor or dentist about potential treatments and which may be best suited for you.

TMJ Disorders and Tinnitus: Relationship and Treatment

Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is largely associated with age- or noise-related hearing loss. Mounting evidence has found that, in a smaller number of cases, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders may be a root cause of tinnitus instead of hearing loss.

People with subjective tinnitus hear disquieting sounds, such as ringing, buzzing, and humming, that are imperceptible to others. This condition becomes more common as people age and begin to lose their hearing.

In contrast, tinnitus associated with TMJ disorders typically affects a younger demographic. It’s also more common in people who were assigned female at birth than those who were assigned male at birth.

In this article, we explore the connection between tinnitus and TMJ disorders. We also discuss potential treatments that may provide relief for both conditions.

TMJs connect your lower jaw (mandible) to your skull on both sides of your face. These joints are located directly in front of your ears. Your TMJs support the jaw muscles needed for eating, yawning, and speaking.

Causes of TMJ disorders

TMJ disorders are caused by inflammation or irritation of the ligaments and muscles surrounding the joints.

Potential causes include:

• grinding teeth during sleep (bruxism)
• arthritis in the jaw
• trauma to the head or neck
• malocclusion (having an overbite or underbite)
• dislocation of the TMJ disk

Symptoms of TMJ disorders

Symptoms of TMJ disorders include:

• clicking or popping sound in jaw
• pain in the jaw and ear
• headache
• difficulty opening your mouth
• jaws that lock in an open or closed position

A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis of multiple studies found that the prevalence of tinnitus was higher in people with TMJ disorders than in people without TMJ disorders. This may be due to the proximity of the inner ear to the TMJ.

A part in the inner ear called the cochlea transforms sound waves into electrical impulses that the brain translates into recognizable sounds. Damage to the hair cells in the cochlea is a catalyst for tinnitus.

Because the cochlea is located next to the temporomandibular joint, irritation and inflammation in the joint may damage the cochlea and other parts of the inner ear. This may cause subjective tinnitus.

Subjective vs objective tinnitus

Subjective tinnitus is the most common form of tinnitus. Noises are heard only by a person with tinnitus and are not generated by an exterior sound source.

Objective tinnitus is a rarer form of tinnitus. The sounds are typically caused by internal circulatory functions (blood flow) or defects in the structures of the ear. The sounds may be loud enough to be heard by another person.

Was this helpful?

A 2019 research study found that TMJ and tinnitus often occur together in people who were assigned female at birth and who are younger than the average tinnitus patient.

Tinnitus in this group tends to be severe and accompanied by pain, pressure, and high levels of stress.

Accompanying symptoms include:

• dizziness
• headache
• vertigo
• neck pain
• poor quality of life

Tinnitus related to TMJ disorders is sometimes referred to as a type of somatic tinnitus. Somatic tinnitus is defined as tinnitus that’s caused by a musculoskeletal problem.

Researchers involved in a 2019 study noted that people with tinnitus and TMJ disorders might make up a specific tinnitus subtype. Their reasoning was based on this group’s responsiveness to specific treatments.

A 2012 study noted that people with tinnitus and TMJ disorders were able to reduce tinnitus symptoms through movements of the head and jaw. Music and sound stimulation also had a beneficial effect.

Research data from as far back as 1997 found that treating TMJ disorders helps alleviate tinnitus in people with both conditions. However, recent studies suggest more research is needed to confirm this connection.

Even so, the American Tinnitus Association is in favor of treating TMJ disorders to alleviate tinnitus that’s caused by problems with the joint.

Possible treatments for TMJ disorders

There are several types of treatments for TMJ disorders that may help alleviate both tinnitus and jaw pain. These include:

• medications, such as muscle relaxants and antidepressants
• a soft food diet
• dental treatments, including bite realignment
• mouth guards to prevent tooth grinding
• oral splints to realign the eardrum
• physical therapy to stretch and strengthen jaw muscles
• corticosteroid injections into the joint
• minimally invasive surgical procedures, such as arthrocentesis
• open joint surgery (arthrotomy)

TMJ disorders and tinnitus are challenging conditions that can negatively affect your quality of life. Whether you have TMJ disorders or symptoms of tinnitus in one or both ears, talk with a doctor. This is especially important if you’re having difficulty keeping up with daily activities, or if you feel anxious or depressed.

Treatments exist for both tinnitus and TMJ disorders.

TMJ disorders are often treated by a dental professional. Talk with your current healthcare professional about the type of specialist who’s best suited to treat your symptoms.

Research suggests TMJ disorders are a cause of tinnitus in some instances. People who have both conditions tend to be younger than the average tinnitus patient.

People assigned female at birth also seem to be more affected by TMJ disorders and accompanying tinnitus than people assigned male at birth.

When tinnitus is caused by TMJ disorders, treatments specific to this cause may help alleviate symptoms.

Talk with your doctor or dentist about potential treatments and which may be best suited for you.

Temporomandibular Joint and Tinnitus – Tinnitus Neuro-Tinnitus Treatment

17
Apr
2019

17 Apr 2019 News, Causes of subjective tinnitus ah, in evidence not needs. The same goes for neck problems. Tinnitus is often caused by injuries to the jaw and neck, which we successfully ignore in our youth. But then, when talking, chewing, turning and tilting the head begin to cause tinnitus, many seek medical help. And they do exactly the right thing. Modern medicine has many opportunities to save such patients from annoying and annoying tinnitus.

Contents of the article:

• 1 Features of the TMJ
• 2 How does the pathology of the TMJ manifest itself?
  • 2.1 Diagnosis: where and by whom?
• 3 How to treat?
• 4 Neck problems and tinnitus

TMJ features

The temporomandibular joint is a complex articulation that allows the jaw to move not only up and down, but also sideways. In addition, it is controlled by the most powerful muscles of the human body – chewing.

Problems with it can be different:

1. dislocation of the fibrous disc inside the articular cavity;
2. injury of articular surfaces;
3. excessive muscular effort applied to the jaw;
4. arthritis, as a manifestation of systemic pathology and arthrosis, as a result of wear and tear of the joint;
5. infectious processes spreading to the TMJ from the ENT organs, the mastoid process.

How does TMJ pathology manifest itself?

Typical symptoms for the problems listed above are pain when opening the mouth and tinnitus. The reason for the first is clear: swelling of the capsule, friction of the articular heads. As for tinnitus, things are a bit more complicated here.

First, the masticatory muscles are located next to the muscle fibers that control the structures of the middle ear. Therefore, the excessive tone of the masticatory muscles affects hearing, contributes to the appearance of tinnitus.

Secondly, in the pathology of the TMJ, small ligaments that go from the joint to the auditory ossicles of the middle ear may be involved in the process. Comments are superfluous.

Thirdly, the nerve centers that control the work of the temporomandibular joint are closely connected with the parts of the brain responsible for hearing and interpreting sounds. If one system suffers, then the function of the second is also impaired.

In addition, when a joint is dysfunctional, it starts making sounds on its own.

And quite characteristic: clicking with each opening and closing of the mouth, creaking, even grinding. Very annoying and stressful condition.

Diagnostics: where and who?

For most patients, it is enough to see a dentist. But it is also worth preparing for instrumental additional examination: X-ray, CT, and sometimes MRI.

In modern conditions, it is even possible to do arthroscopy: to examine the state of the temporomandibular joint with the help of a micro-camera inserted into its cavity.

How to treat?

In many cases, TMJ problems are helped by simple recommendations:

• switch to a soft food diet;
• relaxation exercises for chewing muscles;
• use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• people with bruxism (teeth grinding at night) should have a special mouth guard fitted.

But sometimes, in order for the noise to finally subside, one has to resort to surgery and even prosthetics of individual structures of the joint.

Neck problems and tinnitus

The cervical spine is very vulnerable, especially in case of an accident. It is also prone to inflammation and osteochondrosis.
Regarding common diseases of the cervical region, we have a separate article on our website (opens in a new tab).

Read about the pathology of the cervical spine

Tinnitus associated with neck pathology is often accompanied by psycho-emotional disorders (depression), cognitive (poor memory, difficulty concentrating) and somatic (dizziness) disorders.

Naturally, in order to help such patients get rid of tinnitus, it is necessary to establish the source of the problem as accurately as possible, for which the entire arsenal of techniques (X-ray, CT, MRI) is used. And only after a complete examination, it is possible to draw up an algorithm for the treatment of a particular patient.

The Tinnitus Neuro clinic has everything you need for professional assistance to people with cervicogenic tinnitus: call us 8-495-374-92-03 or contact us through the website.

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Indications for intra-articular (temporomandibular joint) steroids for tinnitus

Indications for intra-articular (temporomandibular joint) steroids for tinnitus

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Indications for intra-articular (in the temporomandibular joint) administration of steroids for tinnitus

Journal:

Bulletin of otorhinolaryngology.

2019;84(6): 138‑138

How to quote:

Indications for intra-articular (in the temporomandibular joint) administration of steroids for tinnitus. Bulletin of otorhinolaryngology.
2019;84(6):138-138.
Temporomandibular steroids in patients with tinnitus: only on indication. Vestnik Oto-Rino-Laringologii. 2019;84(6):138-138. (In Russ.)

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K. Henk, K. Mark

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Patients with tinnitus of undetermined cause may have temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, one treatment for which is intra-articular steroids. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of temporomandibular joint steroid administration for the treatment of patients with tinnitus and to more specifically determine the indications for this therapy. We analyzed 70 case histories of patients who came to the clinic from October 2016 to October 2018 for consultations about tinnitus lasting more than 1 month. They were treated with steroid injections into the temporomandibular joint. The data of complaints and anamnesis of patients, radiographs of the cervical spine and audiograms were evaluated. Dynamic monitoring of the effectiveness of therapy was carried out by an independent observer using a telephone survey. Reduction in tinnitus during the 7-week follow-up was achieved in 20% of patients receiving intra-articular injections. After 18 months, this positive effect was observed in 50% of patients. Of the side effects from intra-articular injections after 7 weeks of observation, an increase in the intensity of tinnitus was noted in 11% of patients and general side effects from the use of steroids in 3% of patients. In patients with ANS disorders, unilateral tinnitus was identified in combination with pain in the neck. In 53% of patients with unilateral tinnitus in combination with neck pain, after 7 weeks of treatment with intra-articular injections, a decrease in the intensity of tinnitus was noted, and in 40% of them, the intensity of the noise decreased by more than half. An increase in the intensity of tinnitus as a side effect was observed in 7% of patients in this group.