Tinnitus is a relatively common phenomenon, affecting 50 million Americans. It’s characterized by the perception of a phantom sound, such as ringing, humming or buzzing, in the ear with no external source. Tinnitus can be caused by a wide variety of other conditions, ranging from loud noise exposure to cardiovascular disease to ear injury. Research shows that one prominent condition that can affect or cause tinnitus is a disorder in the jaw called TMJ.
What Is TMJ?
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, but the acronym has come to stand for a disorder of the joint rather than the joint itself. The temporomandibular joint connects the jawbone to the skull like a hinge, and there is one on either side of the jawbone, under the ears. It controls jaw movement.
The disorder TMJ occurs when the temporomandibular joint is damaged. Symptoms of TMJ include:
- Pain in the jaw when opening or closing your mouth.
- A clicking sound when you chew.
- A grating feeling when you move your jaw.
How Does TMJ Affect Tinnitus?
Jaw movement and the auditory system may not seem related at first, but the temporomandibular joint and the ear share many nerve pathways and connections, which means that damage or dysfunction to one can cause problems with the other.
The ear and the temporomandibular joint share the trigeminal nerve, which receives and carries information from both the jaw and the ear and takes that information to the brain. TMJ may press this nerve or even damage it, which can cause the nerve to believe it’s receiving auditory information and send it to the brain to be perceived as sound, when in reality, there was no external noise.
TMJ can also cause muscle tightness around the ear and jaw. These muscles play a role in sound modulation, so tension in them can cause sounds in the ear to be muffled or warped.
How Can I Tell If TMJ Is Causing My Tinnitus?
Your tinnitus is likely caused by or related to a disorder in the TM joint if you notice changes in tinnitus when you manipulate your jaw, such as moving or pressing on your jaw, clenching your teeth or chewing. These tinnitus changes could be an increase or decrease in volume or pitch; it’s different for everyone.
How Can I Find Relief?
Managing tinnitus usually starts by managing its underlying cause. If tinnitus is related to TMJ, seeing a jaw or TMJ specialist may help. Dental treatment, jaw relaxation therapy or bite realignment may also help treat TMJ.
There are also many management strategies for tinnitus available, such as acoustic therapy or tinnitus retraining therapy. These strategies can manage tinnitus’s impact on your daily life, but they will not relieve the underlying problem, such as TMJ.
Call Spartanburg-Greer ENT & Allergy today to discuss your hearing health in greater detail. We can get to the bottom of what is causing your tinnitus and come up with a management plan that works.