Do You Hear What I Hear? Let's Talk About Ear Symptoms

Do you experience ringing, humming, buzzing, whooshing, roaring, hissing, whistling, pulsing, clicking, fullness, pressure, itchiness, pain, muffled hearing, a clogged or a water sensation in your ear?

Tinnitus is a symptom of several different underlying causes. It’s an experience of ringing or other noises and otological symptoms in one or both ears. It’s not caused by external sound, and nobody else can hear what you are experiencing. Cervical spine or jaw dysfunction are frequently associated with tinnitus, and other otological symptoms, therefore assessing and treating both the musculoskeletal system of the neck and jaw is important to have an impact on ear symptoms.

Tinnitus is a common problem, and affects more than 20% of the population, most common in adults age 45-65. It is twice as common in women, and eight times more prevalent in the presence of temporomandibular disorders (TMJD).  It can be constant or intermittent and vary in pitch and volume. It can have a moderate to severe impact on one’s quality of life.

While it is possible to eradicate tinnitus and other otological symptoms, depending on type and cause, manual therapy can play a very supportive role in influencing the presentation of symptoms. Change can sometimes happen swiftly, however reducing these frustrating ear symptoms is more common after a cluster of sessions. A little patience, and consistency will always offer the best results.