Can somatosensory tinnitus, that we can modulate with movement of the mouth, jaw, neck, be reactive to the sound environment? Or simply reactive to tensions in the neck and head area?
Finally, can we have both, a more central tinnitus in the head due to sound trauma and, in addition, somatosensory tinnitus related to TMJ problems and chronic contraction of the neck, jaw muscle?
@Josh59, somatosensory tinnitus can be a separate tinnitus type or a subtype of subjective tinnitus, where cervical spine (neck) or temporomandibular (TMJ) area causes or changes a patient's tinnitus perception. Besides somatosensory being a separate type, a large percentage of patients with subjective tinnitus can have secondary influence from the neck and jaw region.
Somatic tinnitus is related to the somatosensory system of the cervical spine and temporomandibular joint. It is associated with activation of the somatosensory, somatomotor, and visual motor systems. The loudness or intensity of this type of tinnitus can be changed by sensory or motor stimuli such as muscle contractions, eye movements, mechanical pressure on myofascial trigger points, or joint movements.
You could have both subjective and somatosensory physical tinnitus.
And the tinnitus increases even after speaking in a low voice or whispering. I wonder if it is not the tension/contraction of the throat muscles when I whisper that accentuates this type of tinnitus.
The hyroid bone or tongue-bone is a horseshoe-shaped bone situated in the anterior midline of the neck between the chin and the thyroid cartilage. At rest, it lies between the base of the mandible and the third cervical vertebra.
Unlike other bones, the hyoid is only distantly articulated to other bones by muscles or ligaments. It is the only bone in the human body that is not connected to any other bones nearby. The hyoid is anchored by muscles from the anterior, posterior and inferior directions, and aids in tongue movement, swallowing and talking. The hyoid bone provides attachment to the muscles of the floor of the mouth and the tongue above, the larynx below, and the epiglottis and pharynx behind.
A neck X-ray may show if your TMJ is linked to your C spine. There's several ways TMJ can happen. It's reported that 23/1000 get TMJ from having mouth open too wide for too long when receiving dental treatment. I think that number should be much higher. Clenching teeth during sleep could cause TMJ.
If you have an idea as to why you have TMJ, I can give a treatment idea.
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