Hi Al,
My Tinnitus started about 3 years ago. At worst, it was like a Roaring Jet, a low frequency Chirping, and at best, a Hissing noise. It was constant in some form. I had all the tests and had no hearing problems or nerve damage to my ears. I have no idea why it started 23 years after I was diagnosed with TMJD, when many people have it to begin with.
I've had hearing tests over the years due to ear pain, Hyperacusis and a brief period (about a year) of Pulsatile Tinnitus. The Pulsing was caused by muscle spasms. I always had hearing that was off the charts and it would escalate to Hyperacusis after a surgery and take a long time to go back to my normal, hearing a pin drop a mile away.
The TRT did help me not go crazy and it did work for me. Before my splint therapy, I had been in the TRT for a year and I was becoming use to the noise. It did not bother me so bad. So I believe the theory on training the brain not to listen to the noise is a good one.
With the splint therapy, I no longer have the Jet nor the Chirp. I have a little Hissing noise on & off, but believe it will eventually go away.
My Tinnitus is completely (TMJD) muscle related. I was told that these are the cases that splint therapy can do the most for. I was told the TRT works for other types of Tinnitus in 80% of cases.
The Jastreboff Method is the one I used and do not in any way regret getting into this therapy. I believe I would have gone nuts without it.
Trying to get the correct diagnosis on "what" is causing the noise is so very hard. This makes it hard to know what to do.
The ENT, who checked my ears, did tests for the Tinnitus and referred me to his Resident Audiologist who does the TRT, told me it had nothing to do with the TMJD problems. He was about the 5th ENT who had told me this during a years time that I had searched for help for the T. Most ENT's don't have a clue how TMJD problems affect the ears. (I do not like this ENT, but the Audiologist in his office is the only one trained in my area in the Jastreboff Method, and she's great)
I was told by a Neurotologist right before my splint was ready, that if it was made to relax the muscles and worked, my Tinnitus would most likely completely go away. (I had been in the TRT program about a year and it had helped me deal with the noise better, but it had not gone away.)
I had seen this Neurotologist on & off over the years due to the Hyperacusis and other ear problems, and he had always said he believed all of my ear problems were caused by the TMJD. I didn't want to believe him, because I was under the false belief that nothing else could be done about the TMJD. I wanted him to fix my ears, especially after the "T" started and there was nothing "he" could fix. He was "right" about it all. He is the only Doctor in the Ear Specialist Field that has ever connected the ear problems to TMJD (for me) and can explain in detail how & why everything happens.
I don't know if this helps you. I think you have to at least, get an idea of what's causing the noise to know what to do.
One thing is for sure, most people with TMJD have ear problems and many have Tinnitus.
Also, from my personal experience, Tinnitus causes stress, stress causes muscles to tense and spasm and this causes the Tinnitus to be worse. It's a vicious cycle and I would think it's possible that a splint to relax muscles might help in some way break the cycle.
Take care and I hope you find the answers you're looking for,
Cymy Sue
[This message has been edited by Cymy Sue (edited 07-30-2003).]
[This message has been edited by Cymy Sue (edited 07-30-2003).]
[This message has been edited by Cymy Sue (edited 07-30-2003).]
[This message has been edited by Cymy Sue (edited 07-30-2003).]
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