You may have experienced a ringing ear after a gig or using loud machinery. The best way to stop it is often to wait. However, a ringing ear that lasts for three months or longer is classed as chronic tinnitus.[i]
Awareness of tinnitus is high because it is common and mostly self-diagnosed – only you can hear the noise.
A ringing ear isn’t the only symptom of tinnitus. You may also hear other phantom sounds in the ears or head like:
The exact cause of this is unknown. One leading theory believes that damage to the inner ear changes the signal carried by the nerves. The brain then generates the phantom sounds itself.[i]
Chronic tinnitus can have several causes and risk factors, including:
Tinnitus can affect any person at any age: a reported 10-25% of adults experience it. For some patients with tinnitus, moving the head, neck or eyes may change the quality of the sound.
The condition may improve or worsen in the long term.[i] This can impact mood, disrupt sleep, increase the risk of anxiety and depression, and inhibit quality of life.
Problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can be a risk factor for tinnitus. Among TMD patients, 25-65% of TMD patients report tinnitus as a symptom.[iii]
Why this happens is unclear. One answer is that the TMJ and the ear are very close to each other. Clenching and grinding the jaw damages the tissue surrounding the TMJ and the ear, worsening tinnitus.[i]
Patients with both tinnitus and TMD had superior hearing function compared to patients with just tinnitus. Among those with both TMD and tinnitus, 54% were women, identifying them as being slightly more at risk.[iii]
Another study found that young women most often reported somatosensory tinnitus. This is when the sounds heard are influenced by movements or pressure in the head, neck and jaw. In this group, the number of TMD complaints was greater among patients with severe tinnitus (36%) than those without tinnitus (19%).[iv] Stress was also given as a leading cause of tinnitus.
Managing tinnitus and TMDThere are many ways in which tinnitus patients can reduce the loudness. Trying relaxation techniques like yoga can distract patients, as well as improving sleep patterns and lowering stress levels.
Whilst the exact link is still a mystery, there is a clear association between TMD and tinnitus. Reducing clenching and tooth grinding habits, such as by sleeping with a mouthguard and practising relaxation, can help the TMJ.[v] This may then reduce tinnitus.
An excellent treatment for TMD patients is the OraStretchâ Press Rehab System from Total TMJ. The device offers a simple yet efficient way to restore strength and function to the TMJ. To be used daily, following the recommended exercises of a healthcare professional, the OraStretchâ Press mobilises the jaw joint and helps heal damaged tissues.
Despite its high prevalence, tinnitus is still shrouded in mystery. By acknowledging the correlation between TMD and tinnitus, patients can be set on the path away from jaw pain and ringing ears.
[i] National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (2023). Tinnitus. [online] NIDCD. Available at: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/tinnitus.
[ii] NHS (2024). Tinnitus. [online] NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tinnitus/.
[iiI] Inchingolo, A.M., Inchingolo, A.D., Settanni, V., De Leonardis, N., Campanelli, M., Garofoli, G., Benagiano, S., Malcangi, G., Minetti, E., Palermo, A., Inchingolo, F., Dipalma, G. and Patano, A. (2023). Correlation between Temporomandibular Disorders and Tinnitus and Possible Treatment Strategies: Comprehensive Review. Applied Sciences, [online] 13(15), p.8997. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/app13158997.
[iv] Edvall, N.K., Gunan, E., Genitsaridi, E., Lazar, A., Mehraei, G., Billing, M., Tullberg, M., Bulla, J., Whitton, J., Canlon, B., Hall, D.A. and Cederroth, C.R. (2019). Impact of Temporomandibular Joint Complaints on Tinnitus-Related Distress. Frontiers in Neuroscience, [online] 13. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.00879.
[v] NHS Choices (2020). Temporomandibular disorder (TMD). [online] NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/temporomandibular-disorder-tmd/.