What’s That Buzzing in My Ear?

Tinnitus is the perception of hearing a ringing, buzzing or other noise in one or both of your ears. Mayo Clinic states that between 15-20% of people will experience tinnitus at some point in their life. It is more common in older populations. But what causes tinnitus? Let’s take a look!

Tinnitus can be brought on as a result of:

• Noise exposure
• Hearing loss
• Medications
• Ear wax or ear infection
• Head, neck, or jaw issues
• Tumors
• Blood pressure issues
• Chronic conditions such as diabetes and thyroid issues

There are a few thoughts as to how the jaw might cause these symptoms:

1. The nerves that work with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or jaw have been shown to have connections to the brain that are involved with interpretation of sound and hearing. Therefore, damage to the jaw can actually cause your brain to interpret a sound when none is present.
2. Some of the muscles that are involved in chewing are near muscles that attach to the middle ear. This interaction may cause tinnitus.

How Can PT Help?

There are many ways in which tinnitus can possibly be treated based on the cause. When ringing is a result of neck or TMJ issues, treatment may include working with a physical therapist. Physical therapy can help to work on the underlying issues with a patient’s musculoskeletal system which may be contributing to tinnitus. The PT may work on the following:

• Stretching and posture training
• Range of motion of the neck
• Manual therapy to the muscles of the neck and jaw
• Dry needling to help reduce muscle tightness

If you experience a ringing or buzzing sensation in one or both of your ears, reach out to our team who can help to identify your current condition and recommend the best treatment plan based on your personal needs. We offer free assessments virtually through our telehealth platform and in person at one of our clinic locations.

Schedule a Free Assessment

*Per federal guidelines, beneficiaries of plans such as Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, VHA and other federally funded plans are not eligible for free assessments.

The Athletico blog is an educational resource written by Athletico employees. Athletico bloggers are licensed professionals who abide by the code of ethics outlined by their respective professional associations. The content published in blog posts represents the opinion of the individual author based on their expertise and experience. The content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice and should not be relied on for making personal health decisions.

References:
https://tinnitus.org.uk/understanding-tinnitus/living-with-tinnitus/tinnitus-and-tmj/#:~:text=There%20is%20a%20close%20relationship,may%20also%20suffer%20from%20tinnitus .
https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/tinnitus#2
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tinnitus/symptoms-causes/syc-20350156
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Tinnitus#:~:text=perception%20remained%20unchanged.-,Stretching%2C%20postural%20training%20and%20acupuncture,trapezius%2C%20m