Question: My brother has been diagnosed with somatic tinnitus. How does it differ from regular ringing of the ears?
Dr. Hibberd’s answer:
Somatic tinnitus causes noise in the ears that can be affected by movement, stimulation, muscle pressure in the head and neck, and by peripheral nerve stimulation. Patients with this condition usually benefit from treatment that relaxes the muscles in the head or neck area.
Sometimes simple pressure alone is all that is needed. Some patients benefit by using dental bite plates that reduce jaw tension. Most garden-variety tinnitus does not respond to these treatments and approaches.
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