How TMJ affects the ears

TMJ disorders encompass a group of painful conditions that affect the masticatory muscles and the temporomandibular joint. When experiencing this condition, the patient may encounter pain while chewing and speaking, sometimes leading to discomfort in the ear.

Pain appears in most cases after puberty and, in 80% of cases, affects females.

The most common TMJ causes are:

• Dental malocclusion. Most of the temporomandibular pains can be traced back to an inadequate occlusion;
• Tension of the masticatory muscles. This pathology could be the consequence of psychological factors that can cause this tension;
• Bruxism. This pathology causes the involuntary contraction of the facial muscles used for chewing, overloading the temporomandibular joint.

Due to the anatomical proximity between the temporomandibular joint and the ear, the inflammation of this joint can also extend to the auditory system, causing pain. In this case, however, the research work must be interdisciplinary to rule out possible implications for the ear.

TMJ can potentially trigger other hearing disorders, like tinnitus, where individuals perceive a continuous ringing sound without any actual external noise. Specifically, the inner ear, responsible for sound perception, may be affected, leading to an inability to capture sounds accurately and resulting in discomfort.

TMJ can be treated through surgical or non-surgical therapy.

Surgical therapy is aimed at reducing joint load, preserving joint mobility and cartilage. Non-surgical therapy, on the other hand, acts through various therapies, both manual and non-manual, which aim to rehabilitate the joint.

If experiencing hearing loss, a hearing aid can be an effective solution. Nonetheless, before making any decisions, it is always best to consult a specialist to find the most suitable solution for your specific hearing needs.