We rarely take a moment to stop and appreciate the value of a moment of silence. In fact, you’ve probably not thought of the value of silence until a moment when you desperately needed it and couldn’t find it. But sometimes, our silence is not interrupted by noisy neighbors for loud music but by a ringing that seems to be coming from nowhere. This persistent ringing from no apparent source is likely a condition called tinnitus. Today’s article will deal with the different types of tinnitus, their causes and symptoms, and how chiropractic treatment can deal with tinnitus in a noninvasive way!
What is Tinnitus?
Unlike the ringing sensation that usually accompanies a head injury, tinnitus is a persistent ringing sound, meaning that it lasts for an extended period of time and doesn’t quickly dissipate on its own. Tinnitus can also be more than ringing — other sounds like buzzing, whooshing, clicking, or hissing can be examples of tinnitus. This condition can differ from one patient to another, although medical professionals classify tinnitus into four major categories.
The 4 Different Types of Tinnitus
Although tinnitus is something only the patient can hear, there are four defined types of tinnitus: subjective, objective, neurological, and somatic.
Subjective Tinnitus
Subjective tinnitus is the most common form of tinnitus, probably what you think of when you hear the word. It is characterized by a sound that can only be heard by the patient (hence the name “subjective”). Subjective tinnitus is often triggered by a loud noise and may last for several months or may not dissipate at all.
Objective Tinnitus
Objective tinnitus is caused by muscle contractions or vascular deformities. In this case, the loud noises the person hears can also be heard by another person. Luckily, objective tinnitus can be permanently fixed by treating underlying muscle contractions or deformities.
Neurological Tinnitus
Neurological tinnitus is caused by an underlying disorder affecting the brain. For instance, neurological tinnitus can be caused by a condition called ménière (or Meniere’s) disease, which affects the auditory part of your brain, creating an annoying but imagined sound.
Somatic Tinnitus
Lastly, somatic tinnitus is a form of tinnitus caused by a damaged sensory system (e.g., an ear, neck, or head injury).
What are the Tinnitus Symptoms?
The primary symptom of tinnitus is a persistent ringing occurring in one ear or both ears. However, tinnitus does not have to be constant. The sound you hear from a bout of tinnitus can grow stronger or fade out. This means that the sound can come and go but still be a sign of tinnitus so long as it lasts for a prolonged period and is debilitating.
What are the Underlying Causes of Tinnitus?
Tinnitus can be caused by a wide variety of underlying causes, such as:
- Vertigo
- Age-related hearing loss
- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
Other factors such as earwax blockage, inner ear damage, and head or neck trauma or injuries can also cause tinnitus. But, most importantly, an injury or misalignment of the upper cervical spine often hides behind a patient’s tinnitus, something that our chiropractic team at the Bergen Chiropractic and Sports Rehabilitation Center can fix!
Do Chiropractors Help With Tinnitus?
Chiropractors and chiropractic management are one of the most direct ways to treat tinnitus. Traditionally, tinnitus has been treated by changing one’s lifestyle (e.g., diet), behavioral therapy, hearing aids, and electromagnetic stimulation. On the other hand, chiropractic care treats tinnitus at its source: the upper cervical spine. Only through chiropractic care for tinnitus can the cervical spine be effectively adjusted and realigned, something that several case studies have already proven!
Upper Cervical Chiropractic Treatment for Tinnitus
Chiropractors treat tinnitus through a series of small adjustments to the upper cervical spine near the base of your skull. These adjustments realign the bones around your neck and ears to help restore their normal function and reduce the pressure placed on your brain stem and ears, treating the pressure contributing to tinnitus.
Other Tinnitus Treatment Modalities
Other than chiropractic care, there are other helpful methods of treating tinnitus. Commonly, tinnitus can also be improved by earwax removal, noise suppression, and by blood vessel treatment. These methods all aim to reduce the contributing factors that can worsen tinnitus.
Other than these methods, patients can use some forms of medication to treat tinnitus. However, these medications don’t actually treat tinnitus but only alleviate its symptoms.
Treating Patients for Tinnitus Symptoms at Bergen Chiropractic!
At the Bergen Chiropractic and Sports Rehabilitation Center, our chiropractic team, led by Dr. Gregory Doerr, follows the highest and most professional medical standards to provide superior chiropractic help. Our mission is to provide unparalleled patient care and services in a comfortable healing atmosphere. Access our contact form or call us at (201) 298-7179 or (201) 357-6539 to learn more about our chiropractic services! Our chiropractic offices at 532 Anderson Avenue, Cliffside Park, NJ 07010, and 62 Summit Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601, are ready to welcome you as we proudly serve New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, PA, and Baltimore, MD, areas. Also, feel free to access our blog, Facebook, and Instagram pages for more information on chiropractic treatments!
References
- “Stop the Ringing! Tinnitus and Chiropractic Care.” Chiropractor, www.thejoint.com/california/long-beach/long-beach-31029/stop-the-ringing-tinnitus-and-chiropractic-care. Accessed 8 Nov. 2022.
- “The 4 Different Types of Tinnitus.” Audiology & Hearing Health, 22 Aug. 2019, www.audiologyandhearing.com/blog/the-4-different-types-of-tinnitus/#. Accessed 8 Nov. 2022.
- “Tinnitus: The Small Problem Giving You a Major Headache.” Chiropractic BioPhysics, idealspine.com/tinnitus-the-small-problem-giving-you-a-major-headache/. Accessed 8 Nov. 2022.
