Can Tinnitus Be Related to the Jaw or Neck?

Key points in 30 seconds

1. Tinnitus is far more often a problem with the ear itself, so an ENT doctor comes first.
2. If one ear suddenly feels blocked, go that same day.
3. If the sound changes when you move your jaw, muscles may be involved.
4. The goal isn't to make the sound disappear, but to make it less bothersome.
5. If you hear it in time with your heartbeat or it comes with dizziness, it needs to be checked separately.

What we often hear

• "I hear a sound in my ears, but the ENT says nothing is wrong."
• "The sound seems to change when I move my jaw."
• "It gets louder when I'm trying to fall asleep."

Can tinnitus be related to the jaw or neck?

Some of it is. If the loudness of the sound changes when you move your jaw or shift your neck posture, it may be the kind that involves muscles and joints.

But there's something to make clear first. Tinnitus is far more often a problem with the ear itself, and seeing an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor comes first. Tinnitus that starts suddenly in particular needs prompt attention.

Why does the ENT come first?

If one ear suddenly feels blocked and you hear a sound, it may be sudden hearing loss. This is a condition where the sooner treatment starts, the better the chance of recovery.

Some people wait a few days before coming in, and those few days can change the outcome. If you suddenly can't hear in one ear or it feels blocked, go to an ENT that same day. What this column covers comes after that check is done.

What is tinnitus related to the jaw or neck like?

Its hallmark is that the loudness or quality of the sound changes when you open or close your mouth, or turn or tilt your head back. We often see it in people whose neck and shoulders are always stiff.

The jaw joint sits right in front of the ear. If you put a finger in front of your ear and open your mouth, you can feel it move. Because it's that close, tension in the surrounding muscles can affect the sound you hear in your ear.

What do you do?

We release tension in the muscles that move the jaw, the back of the neck, and the shoulders, and also look at teeth-clenching habits and head angle. We don't set making the sound disappear as the goal.

If the goal is "the sound goes away," most people end up disappointed. Realistic goals are for the sound to bother you less and for it to be less hard to fall asleep.

What are the limits of this judgment?

We don't have numbers on how much tinnitus decreases when the jaw and neck are treated. It's also hard to tell for sure whether it's the related kind.

One more thing. Tinnitus in only one ear, tinnitus you hear in time with your heartbeat, and tinnitus that comes with dizziness or hearing loss need to be checked separately. In these cases, we'll guide you to have ENT tests first.

We don't look only at the ears; we look at the jaw and neck together. The jaw joint sits right in front of the ear, so tension in the chewing muscles sometimes shows up as sound.

If your ear tests are normal but the sound continues, come see us. There may still be something to look at on the jaw and neck side.

Tinnitus has many causes, so even with the same treatment, results vary greatly from person to person.