One sided tinnitus

[Obiwanw]

I’d appreciate hearing from anyone with a similar situation.

Came on about 8 months ago. No apparent cause. Only on one side (left). No hearing loss. Continuous, doesn’t vary. High pitched buzz/tone. MRI clear. It gets worse when I open my mouth or move my jaw to one side. Had an assessment for TMJD, doesn’t look like that’s causing it seemingly though I do grind teeth apparently.

GP has been great but out of ideas.

Had anyone had anything similar and if so what helped?

Does it ring a bell with anyone here who has got TMJD?

Many thanks

[surreycccfan]

Hi, I have spoken to a couple of audiologist and about change in tone of T when some move our jaws, as I understand it (I am no clinician) it seems many people can do a physical maneuver that alters the loudness and pitch of their tinnitus - know as somatic modulation of tinnitus.

This was first observed and published in a paper in 1999 by Dr Robert Levine, a neurologist

It seems this can be explained by the fact that at the point that sounds enter the brainstem at the dorsal cochlear nucleus and start getting processed. At the very same point sensory information from the face, neck and jaw enters and gets processed

However, somatosensory tinnitus may occur alongside a head/neck injury and may have a different diagnosis/explanation

I think this is covered in one of the BTA webinar that Tony Kay did (I believe this is still free on the BTA website)

If your GP cannot help then maybe look at getting a referral to an ENT.

Hope this helps

[Obiwanw in reply to surreycccfan]

Thank you that’s really interesting info. He thinks he’s referred me to an ENT specialist but he hasn’t really though I’ve seen an audiologist and had an MRI.

[Happyrosie]

I’d just add a comment to what surreyccfan says - with which I concur obviously.The British tinnitus Association website is really helpful concerning tinnitus in general, rather than your specific query, and has a chat option, or you can call them, if you’d like to go down either of these routes during nine to five weekdays

[Obiwanw in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you. The GP although great, has run out of ideas and suggested the BTA. I will give them a call.

[surreycccfan in reply to Obiwanw]

This is not an unusual story. When visiting you GP maybe go forearmed with the National Institute of Health Care and Excellence (NICE) guidelines on T (nice.org.uk/guidance/ng155) which all clinicians should be following in the treatment paths for T, this is a lengthy document so have a look at this flowchart in the supporting document section (nice.org.uk/guidance/ng155/... which shows your GP should be helping you get a MANAGEMENT PLAN in place for your T, if they are unable to do this then have them refer to audiology/ENT who should be able to help you with the management plan.

[msspinner]

Hi! My T tends to be one-sided (right ear). Most of the time it's not intrusive and I've never sought medical help for it. Really, I'm replying to your post to show you're not alone with the weirdness that is T. Good luck in getting a resolution.

[Aspacia]

I have similar - it started on October 21st '21 (the perfect end to a terrible year), and the high pitched buzz in one ear that you describe is its default. Mine isn't consistent though - on and off all the time, sometimes intrusive, sometimes not - although more often intrusive and on. It seems to get worse when I use my computer and mobile phone but there's not a lot of evidence to verify this as a cause. I would definitely try to get a referral to an ENT specialist (that's my plan) as it's always better to have an idea of possible causes.

[PABLR]

I had one sided tinnitus for years but although I didn't realise it at first it was probably related to hearing loss and I was eventually diagnosed with Meniere's disease. Tinnitus is tricky; it seems to do what it does without logic or reason in many cases, and not enough is known about it. Has your hearing been tested? Is it disabling or 'just' annoying? The sound I first experienced was very similar to what you report. Unfortunately tinnitus is incurable and you have to learn to learn ways to live with it, and people have different strategies for doing that. Find all the information you can and try to find what works best for you. As mine (now in both ears and multiple sounds) remains on the annoying spectrum I try to keep busy and ignore it. I know it's constant and I hear it constantly but I don't remember it constantly if that makes sense. I will do something and later think - oh I don't remember hearing my tinnitus when I was .... but if I stop to think about it it's right there. Good luck.

[rabbits65 in reply to PABLR]

Your last 8 or so lines at the end are spot on for me also , whereby you keep really busy and almost forget that tinnitus is there , it goes to show how our mindset works and our attitude to tinnitus is the main solver . I suppose this is what they call habituating . It’s very difficult , and I’m making slow progress .

[PABLR]

I think you might find that if it doesn't get unbearably intrusive, that you will, over time, just come to accept it as part of what is. It annoys me, it's always audible if I think about it, but it rarely bothers me too much.

[Grinadella]

Hi, I had a similar experience, but went deaf at the same time. Do you have any neck problems? I have TMJ and Sternocleidemastoid problems too.

Good luck, hope it gets better.