Can TMJ Cause Hearing Loss?

TMJ and Hearing Loss: Can Jaw Dysfunction Affect Your Ears?

If you are experiencing jaw pain, popping noises when you chew, or occasional locking, these are recognized signs of TMJ disorder. What many patients don’t realize is that TMJ dysfunction can also affect hearing. The jaw joint is located extremely close to the ears, and problems with the TMJ can produce symptoms not just in the jaw, but in the ears as well.

Learn about TMJ diagnosis and treatment at our Gilbert dental office  →  East Valley TMJ

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TMJ Signs and Symptoms

Hearing-related symptoms associated with TMJ disorder can include:

•       Muffled or decreased hearing

•       Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

•       Ear pain

•       Sensation of fullness in the ear

•       Clicking or popping sounds when the jaw moves

•       Facial pain

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How TMJ Affects Hearing

The temporomandibular joint is located adjacent to the middle ear. Pressure or inflammation from TMJ dysfunction can affect the nerves and muscles in the area, blocking or impairing the eustachian tubes. When the eustachian tubes cannot drain fluid from the middle ear properly, tinnitus and hearing difficulties can result.

Research indicates that the anatomical structures connecting the middle ear to the TMJ — and the shared nerve supply — explain why approximately 85% of TMD patients experience aural symptoms. Many patients seek help from an ear specialist who finds nothing wrong with the ear, only to have the problem eventually traced back to the jaw.

Types of TMJ-Related Hearing Loss

Conductive

Caused by anything impeding the mechanical transmission of sound from the middle ear to the inner ear.

Sensorineural

Caused by a malfunction of the inner ear or auditory nerve.

Mixed

A combination of both types.

Diagnosis and Treatment

A dentist can diagnose TMD through a physical examination and may recommend panoramic X-rays. Treatment of TMJ disorder can reverse hearing loss and relieve ear-related problems in some patients, and may include a splint or mouth guard, physical therapy, or medications.

Experiencing Ear Symptoms Alongside Jaw Pain? See Dr. Garza in Gilbert.

If you are experiencing hearing loss, tinnitus, or ear pain alongside jaw symptoms, Dr. John A. Garza DDS, LVIF, FIAPA, FICOI can evaluate whether TMJ is the underlying cause. No referral needed — book online or call (480) 539-7979.

About the Author

Dr. John A. Garza DDS, LVIF, FIAPA, FICOI has been practicing dentistry in Gilbert, AZ since 1994. He is highly trained in neuromuscular and physiologic dentistry, with extensive experience diagnosing and treating TMJ disorder, orofacial pain, and jaw dysfunction. One of fewer than 500 dentists worldwide to hold the LVIF designation from the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies.