Tinnitus is a condition
characterized by noises in the ears or head. The sounds
may include ringing, buzzing, hissing, rushing water, roaring,
Studies have shown that
close to half of the people suffering with tinnitus have
a dysfunction of the muscles and joints of the head and
face, commonly referred to as "TMJ." The Temporomandibular
Joint (TMJ) is the joint in front of the ear which allows
us to speak, chew, swallow, kiss, smile and exhibit normal
facial expressions. Almost half of the patients who have
TMJ dysfunctions have tinnitus as one of their symptoms
and in these patients, success rates in eliminating these
In certain cases, tinnitus
may be a result of spasm of a tiny muscle (called the stapedius)
in the middle ear. This spasm may cause a slight vibration
which is heard within the ear as a ringing, buzzing or hissing
sound. In addition, dysfunction of other muscles, such as
the tensor veli palati, may prevent the Eustachian tube
(an air passage connecting the middle ear to the throat)
from functioning normally, causing fullness and pressure
Conditions commonly referred
to as "TMJ," "TMD," "TM Joint Dysfunction
Syndrome," etc., are complex dysfunctions of muscles,
ligaments and joints involving the head, face and neck.
These conditions are typically caused by injuries such as
falls, automobile accidents, trauma at birth, etc. It is
very common for onset of symptoms to be delayed for months
or years, thereby leading the individual to believe that
For many patients, tinnitus
- Headaches
- Face pain
- Eye pain
- Earaches
- Dizziness
- Pressure in the ears
- Clicking noises or pain
when opening or closing the mouth
- Difficulty swallowing
- Burning tongue
- Frequent sore throats
We have found that patients
who have tinnitus as one of their symptoms, experience an
elimination of their ear sounds following treatment in the
vast majority of cases. However, patients who have tinnitus
without any other symptoms, are relatively unlikely to experience
improvement with treatment of the type discussed below.
Since approximately half of the people who experience tinnitus
also have other symptoms, a major proportion of tinnitus
sufferers can eliminate the source of their frustration.
Many assume that stress
is the cause of these conditions. However, stress makes
virtually any dysfunction worse. If a person has a heart
problem, under stress, they are more likely to have a heart
attack. Similarly, a person with a stomach ulcer, dysfunction
of the muscles of the head or even a broken leg, are likely
to feel worse stomach pain, headaches or leg pain respectively,
as a result of stress.Certainly, this does not mean that stress was the cause of these conditions.
Treatment commonly employs
procedures which help stimulate muscles and joints to heal
and function normally, decrease spasm, remove toxic waste
products, and increase blood flow and nutrition to the affected
areas. In rare cases, surgery to the affected tissues (not
Over the last few decades,
we have come a long way in diagnosing and treating temporomandibular
joint dysfunctions, and accompanying symptoms such as tinnitus.
However, there's one additional point to keep in mind. Time is of the essence. Our success rate in treating tinnitus and the vast majority of other conditions is over 90%, but unlike the other problems I mentioned, such as headaches or facial pain, the success rate for tinnitus drops as time passes.
"Even if I
lived in California I'd come here for treatment for jaw
pain, migraines, and vomiting. The doctors and staff are
really excellent. - Jennifer R.
P.S. - I actually
forgot that before I came here I used to have ringing in
my ears.
“I can't believe
that after having such severe headaches and ringing in my
ears for so long, all the symptoms disappeared completely.
The pain was so terrible, that I found it difficult to read
and it interfered with my school work. I truly thank everyone
at the Center who contributed to my success!” - Shakenya
M.
“What a job
Dr. Klemons did building the Center and staff. As soon as
I arrived here I knew I was in good hands. Now that the
buzzing noise, pressure in my ears, and hoarseness are gone,
I’m back to work as a police officer and don’t
have to think about these problems anymore.” - Edwin
M.
Phone consultations with professionals
are welcome, or click
here to contact us. Dr. Klemons
and our staff would love to meet you in person. Call
732-727-5000 to set up an appointment today.
Patients are referred to us by physicians,
dentists, chiropractors, psychologists, physical therapists
and other professionals. However, many of our patients
are referred by former patients or based on their own
decision without the need for a referral.
