Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the ears or head without an external source. It affects approximately 10-25% of adults, with prevalence increasing with age. Often described as ringing, buzzing, hissing, or humming, it can be constant or intermittent, varying in pitch and intensity. Tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom of one or more underlying issues, such as hearing loss, ear injury, noise exposure, neurological conditions etc.

​

Given that tinnitus is a symptom and not a diagnosis it is important to establish the underlying cause(s). One possible causal type of tinnitus is know as Somatosensory Tinnitus (ST). Somatosensory tinnitus, also called somatic or craniocervical tinnitus, is a subtype of subjective tinnitus where the perception of sound (ringing, buzzing, or hissing) is influenced or triggered by changes in the somatosensory system, particularly from the cervical spine (neck) or temporomandibular (jaw) area. It’s characterized by the ability to modulate tinnitus pitch or loudness through physical movements or pressure, such as jaw clenching, neck twisting, or touching myofascial trigger points. This occurs due to neural connections between the somatosensory and auditory systems, where altered sensory input from muscles or joints affects auditory processing, often via the dorsal cochlear nucleus.​​

​

Due to the difficulty of establishing reliable and repeatable diagnostic standards a 2023 reserach paper was published in the journal of Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology. This paper created a diagnostic algorithm "that can help diagnose ST with an accuracy of 82.2%, a sensitivity of 82.5%, and a specificity of 79%" . The study can be found here. 

​

The ST screening tool below is my version of an interactive version of this same algorithm. 

 

Another helpful tool is the Tinnitus Functional Index which is used to gauge the severity of a patients particular condition and how it may change over time. I have created an easy to use digital version for my patients to use to make it as easy as possible to track their progress over time. 

 

I would not advise anyone to jump to conclusions or to try and diagnose themselves without physical examination and consultation with a medical professional. 

​

If you would like to consult my opinion on your screening answers please click submit and I will review your answers and try to get in touch with you timelessly.