Turn Down The Ringer.

Somatosensory (somatic) tinnitus is a unique form of tinnitus, an internal ringing, humming, or buzzing sound, triggered or modulated by non-auditory (not related to sound) sensory (movement/damage) input from the head, neck, jaw, or cervical spine. This subtype of tinnitus is closely linked to biomechanical and neurological issues involving muscles, joints, and nerves outside the auditory system.[1][2][3][4]

 

 How Does Somatosensory Tinnitus Happen?

Somatosensory tinnitus results from abnormal signals or irritation in muscles or nerves of the jaw, neck, and face. A few xamples would be TMJ dysfunction, neck strain, misalignment, or muscle tension. These issues  “interact” with the brain’s auditory pathways, especially the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN). Signals from these regions can “cross-talk” with hearing centers, leading to or changing the perception of tinnitus sounds:[2][4][5][1]

– Common triggers: TMJ disorders, bruxism, whiplash, cervical spine dysfunction, trigeminal or cervical nerve irritation, and poor posture.[5][6][1]
– Key mechanism: Nerves in the face/neck/jaw converge in the DCN, where muscle tension or joint misalignment alters sensory input to the auditory centers, leading to tinnitus perception.[4][2][5]

Causes

– Muscle tension (neck, jaw, shoulders) [4][5]
– Cervical misalignment or spine disorders [3][7]
– Jaw misalignment, TMJ dysfunction. Often caused by grinding or clenching. [2][5]
– Cranial nerve irritation (trigeminal/cervical) [6][5]
– Poor posture and repetitive strain (e.g. computer use, instrument playing) [3][2]

Treatment Options

– Chiropractic care: Cervical spine adjustments and manual therapies can restore alignment, reduce nerve irritation, relax tense muscles, and normalize somatosensory input to the DCN, leading to improvement in tinnitus symptoms. Research and clinical reports highlight cases of significant symptom relief after cervical adjustments, particularly for those with mechanical neck disorders or TMJ issues.[7][8]
– Physical and manual therapy: Stretching, jaw exercises, myofascial release, and trigger point therapy for muscle tensioner neck/jaw dysfunction.[8][6]
– Splint therapy (for TMJ): Dental splints or bite guards paired with jaw exercises can decrease muscle/joint tension and relieve tinnitus.[5][8][3]
– Acupuncture: Shown to reduce pain, stress, and muscle tension; may help when used with physical or behavioral therapy.[9][6]
– CBT and sound therapy: Multimodal management, including cognitive behavioral therapy and sound stimulation, is often recommended, especially if stress exacerbates symptoms.[6]

Prevention

– Maintain proper posture during work, play, and sleep.[3][4]
– Manage jaw tension: Avoid clenching/grinding and treat dental/jaw problems promptly.[2]
– Treat muscle tension and neck strain early with stretching and ergonomic corrections.[5][6]
– Avoid repetitive strain or overuse, especially of the jaw and neck.[4]

Timeline for Spontaneous Recovery/Improvement

– Mild cases: Many patients see improvement in weeks to months with correct interventions and addressing underlying biomechanical issues (jaw alignment, neck muscle tension, posture).[10][8]
– Severe or chronic: Chronic cases may persist for months or longer but can steadily improve with consistent therapy. Tinnitus linked to severe structural or nerve injury may be slower or incomplete in recovery; however, 1/3 recover fully, and 1/3 partially, with multimodal care.[10]
– Spontaneous improvement can occur, especially if the root cause (muscle spasm, neck misalignment) resolves naturally or with therapy—majority of improvements seen within 3–6 months for mild-moderate cases.[8][10]

Why Chiropractic Care Can Help

Chiropractic care targets:
– Biomechanical alignment: Corrects cervical vertebrae/joint misalignments causing nerve disturbance or muscle tension around auditory pathways.[7][8]
– Neurological normalization: Restores normal sensory transmission to the DCN, reducing the cross-talk that triggers tinnitus.[7][2][3]
– Muscle tension and posture: Manual therapies and adjustments relieve referred pain and muscle tension in neck/jaw, which are often the underlying drivers of somatosensory tinnitus.[8][7]

By addressing both the mechanical and neural contributions, chiropractic care may provide relief for many experiencing somatosensory tinnitus, especially when symptoms relate to posture, TMJ, muscle tension, or cervical discomfort.[7][8]

Somatosensory tinnitus is a treatable form of tinnitus caused by non-auditory signals from the head, neck, or jaw that interact neurologically with brain hearing centers. Most cases respond to physical, dental, and chiropractic therapies—sometimes in as little as a few weeks—while chronic or severe cases may require months of consistent, multidisciplinary care for substantial improvement.[6][10][3][5][8][7]

[1](https://www.healthline.com/health/somatic-tinnitus)
[2](https://treblehealth.com/somatic-tinnitus/)
[3](https://tinnitus.org.uk/for-professionals/healthcare-professionals/somatic-or-somatosensory-tinnitus/)
[4](https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/53489-Somatic-tinnitus-causes-treatments-and-coping-strategies)
[5](https://audiologyisland.com/blog/somatic-tinnitus-causes-and-treatments/)
[6](https://neuromedcare.com/somatic-tinnitus/)
[7](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11346753/)
[8](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3129953/)
[9](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/tinnitus-treatment)
[10](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4912237/)
[11](https://www.ata.org/about-tinnitus/therapy-and-treatment-options/new-emerging-therapies/)

 

Dr. Lou Jacobs has been a Chiropractor and Acupuncturist in Portland, Maine for over 23 years. He works primarily with families and people from all backgrounds, work histories and extracurricular activities. His specialties include pregnant mothers, children and musicians and performing artists. These specialties translate into rock star care for everyone, whether you fall into the specialty list or not. If you are stuck with your low back pain progress, or progress with any other issues, call Dr. Lou for excellent listening, clear understanding, strategic action, scientific and real world expectations, and everything else that will give you the best chance of success in healing. (207) 774-6251

 

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