What are the symptoms of somatosensory tinnitus is a common question we get as neck health experts.

Individual patients with somatosensory tinnitus can present with a large set of different symptoms. Therefore, it is challenging to define how common it is to have somatosensory tinnitus and therefore, direct symptoms!

In fact, research says the prevalence varies from 16% to 83% depending on the study. This doesn’t help clinicians or patients much as that is such a large difference!

Recently, experts in somatosensory tinnitus were gathered together to create a consensus statement about the diagnostic assessment of somatosensory tinnitus.

We are providing the full details from the study by Michiels et al 2018 as experts agree the diagnosis is made more from evidence from certain features for a set array of criteria.

Criteria on tinnitus modulation

• The patient is able to modulate the tinnitus by voluntary movement of the head, neck, jaw or eyes
  • “You can change the loud ringing in your ears by moving your head, neck, jaw, or eyes on purpose.”
• The patient is able to modulate the tinnitus by somatic maneuvers
  • “You can control the loud ringing in your ears by doing certain body movements.”
• Tinnitus is modulated by pressure on myofascial trigger points
  • “Pressing on specific sore spots in the muscles can make the loud ringing in the ears change.”

Tinnitus Characteristics That, If Present, Strongly Suggest Somatosensory Influence of Tinnitus.

TINNITUS CHARACTERISTICS

• Tinnitus and neck or jaw pain complaints appeared simultaneously
  • “The ringing in the ears and neck or jaw pain start at the same time.”
• Tinnitus and neck/jaw pain symptoms aggravate simultaneously
  • “When the ringing in the ears and neck or jaw pain get worse, they happen at the same time.”
• Tinnitus is preceded by a head or neck trauma
  • “The ringing in the ears started after a head or neck injury.”
• Tinnitus increases during bad postures
  • “The ringing in the ears gets louder when you sit or stand in a bad posture.”
• Tinnitus pitch, loudness and/or location are reported to vary.
  • “Sometimes, the ringing in the ears can change in how high or low it sounds, how loud it is, or where it seems to be coming from.”
• In case of unilateral tinnitus, the audiogram does not account for unilateral tinnitus.
  • “If you only have ringing in one ear, the hearing test doesn’t explain why you have it.”

Accompanying Symptoms That, If Present, Strongly Suggest Somatosensory Influence of Tinnitus.

ACCOMPANYING SYMPTOMS

• Tinnitus is accompanied by frequent pain in the cervical spine, head or shoulder girdle
• Tinnitus is accompanied by the presence of pressure tender myofascial trigger points
• Tinnitus is accompanied by increased muscle tension in the suboccipital muscles
• Tinnitus is accompanied by increased muscle tension in the extensor muscles of the cervical spine
• Tinnitus is accompanied by temporomandibular disorders
• Tinnitus is accompanied by teeth clenching or bruxism
• Tinnitus is accompanied by dental diseases