- Tinnitus refers to hearing a sound without an actual external source that would cause the sound
- Somatosensory tinnitus is a subtype of tinnitus in which the tinnitus sound changes with certain movements of the neck or jaw and/or with touch and/or stretching
- Somatosensory tinnitus is usually associated with functional disorders of the neck and jaw and muscles of the face, neck and shoulder area
Somatosensory or Cervicogenic or Muscle Related Tinnitus
Tinnitus refers to hearing a sound without an external source actually causing it. Naturally, others cannot hear this sound. Somatosensory tinnitus refers to a subtype of tinnitus in which the sound changes or disappears with specific active or passive movements or physical contact, and is usually caused by various problems in the neck, jaw and face joints, muscles, and fascia. The onset of the condition may be accompanied by increased neck tension and some degree of pain; however, this is not always the case.
As a result, it is also one of the most treatable subtypes of tinnitus and can be treated with various manual therapy techniques and precise, individualised neurological rehabilitation. Research has also been conducted, and the response to treatment has generally been positive, although the effects of treatment vary significantly between individuals.
Symptoms of Somatosensory Tinnitus
- The sound of somatosensory tinnitus can be ringing, buzzing, humming, hissing, or crackling.
- It is usually more on one side.
- Movement and/or tension in the jaw, neck, eyes, or limbs immediately changes the sound of the tinnitus.
- Physical contact, such as pressure, stretching, mobilisation/manipulation, stroking, or tapping, changes the sound of the tinnitus.
- It may be associated with a feeling of fullness or blockage in the ear.
- Muscle-specific: Physical contact, such as stretching a specific muscle, may reduce symptoms, but stretching the same muscle on the other side does not relieve symptoms.
- Location-specific: Physical contact involving pressing a muscle at one point reduces symptoms, but pressing it at another point does not.
Risk Factors for the Development of Somatosensory Tinnitus
- Previous changes in hearing, such as hearing loss
- Neck and/or headache and various pain disorders of the upper body
- Dysfunctions in the temporomandibular joint and mastication muscles
- Slightly more common in men
- Various previous injuries to the head, neck and the temporomandibular joint
- Previous surgery on the auditory nerve
- Having various neurological diseases affecting the central nervous system
Treatment of Somatosensory Tinnitus
Treatment and rehabilitation are tailored to the individual, with the primary focus on addressing tissues and movement restrictions that contribute to or exacerbate symptoms. In general, tinnitus responds to treatment slightly more slowly than pain, and there is rarely an immediate effect of treatment on symptoms.
Treatment usually includes:
- Manual therapy and acupuncture matching underlying triggering musculoskeletal factors
- Individually tailored neurological rehabilitation, such as vestibular rehabilitation to treat underlying neurological decifits
- Individual musculoskeletal exercises to improve muscle strength and movement control
- Lifestyle advice, most commonly related to activity, sleep and rest to alleviate triggering factors
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