Burnaby Physio & Massage Therapy
Tinnitus Treatment (Ringing in the Ears)
Physiotherapy for Ringing in the Ears
Tinnitus Treatment in Burnaby - EastWest Physiotherapy
Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, hissing, or whooshing sound in the ears with no outside source. This condition affects a large share of adults at some point, and for many it becomes a daily disruption to focus, sleep, and mood. What surprises most people is that a good share of tinnitus cases are connected to the neck and jaw, not the ear itself. When that’s the case, it’s called somatosensory tinnitus, or somatic tinnitus, and it’s one of the few forms of tinnitus that responds well to physiotherapy treatment.
At EastWest Physiotherapy in Burnaby, we provide one-to-one tinnitus treatment in private rooms, combining evidence-based Western physiotherapy with proven Eastern techniques such as acupuncture and cupping to calm irritated neck and jaw muscles, joints and nerves. This can reduce how often tinnitus flares, and address the root cause of symptoms, not just mask the sound.
What Is Tinnitus, and Can Physiotherapy Help?
Tinnitus isn’t a sound coming from your ear. It’s a signal generated inside your nervous system. That’s why a normal hearing test from an audiogram doesn’t rule tinnitus out, and it’s also why treatment doesn’t have to start and end at the ear.
Research suggests that roughly one in four people with tinnitus have a form that’s driven, at least in part, by the neck and/or the jaw. This happens because the nerves that carry sensation from your upper neck and jaw muscles connect into the very first relay station of your hearing pathway, in the brainstem. When those neck and jaw nerves are sending abnormal signals (from tight muscles, a stiff joint, or jaw clenching), that extra “noise” can tip the hearing pathway into producing a ringing sound of its own.
The telltale sign of this type of tinnitus is simple: it changes when you move. Clenching your jaw, turning your neck, or pressing on a tight spot in your shoulder or jaw muscle makes the ringing louder, quieter, or shifts where you hear it. If that sounds familiar, physiotherapy is likely to help.
What Causes Neck and Jaw Related Tinnitus?
This type of tinnitus is rarely caused by one single thing. It usually builds up from a combination of:
- Jaw clenching or teeth grinding (bruxism), day or night
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction or clicking
- Stiff or irritated upper neck joints
- Whiplash from a car accident
- Past head or neck injury
- Tight, overactive muscles at the base of the skull, jaw, and upper neck
- Forward head posture from long hours at a desk or on a phone
- Sleep positions that load the neck or jaw
- Stress and Anxiety, which increases jaw clenching and neck tension
Almost nobody has just one contributing factor. Our job is to work out which of these apply to you, and build a plan around the ones we can change.
Common Symptoms of Somatic Tinnitus
Symptoms vary from person to person, but the pattern is usually recognizable:
- Ringing, buzzing, hissing, or whooshing in one or both ears
- Tinnitus that gets louder or quieter with jaw clenching, yawning, or neck movement
- Neck or jaw pain that flares up and settles down along with the ringing
- Jaw tightness, clicking, or difficulty opening fully, especially in the morning
- Headaches starting at the base of the skull
- A feeling of fullness in the ear without any hearing loss
- Neck stiffness after long periods at a desk, driving, or looking at a phone
A Simple Self-Check: Is Your Tinnitus Connected to Your Neck or Jaw?
In a quiet room, listen to your tinnitus and rate how loud it feels. Then, one at a time, try each of the following for about 5 seconds:
- Clench your teeth firmly
- Push your jaw forward
- Press your forehead into your palm without letting your head move
- Turn your head fully to one side, then the other
- Press firmly into the muscle at the angle of your jaw
- Press firmly into the base of your skull
- Neck stiffness after long periods at a desk, driving, or looking at a phone
If the sound changes with any of these, louder, quieter, or shifting, that’s a strong sign your tinnitus has a treatable neck or jaw component. Bring your results to your first appointment; it’s genuinely useful information for your assessment.
When to See a Doctor Before Starting Physiotherapy
Most tinnitus is safe to assess with a physiotherapist, but a few patterns need medical attention first. Book a doctor’s appointment before starting physiotherapy if your tinnitus:
- Beats in time with your heartbeat
- Is in one ear only, along with hearing loss in that ear
- Started suddenly, or came on after a head injury
- Comes with dizziness, vertigo, facial numbness, or facial weakness
- Comes with a new, severe, or unusual headache
If none of these apply to you, physiotherapy is a reasonable place to start.
How Long Does Tinnitus Treatment Take to Improve?
Most people begin noticing their tinnitus become less intrusive within 6 to 8 weeks of consistent treatment, delivered over roughly 10 to 12 sessions. Tinnitus that’s been present for a long time may take longer to shift, and the realistic goal of treatment is a quieter, less bothersome tinnitus rather than guaranteed complete silence, though a meaningful number of people do get there.
How Physiotherapy Helps Tinnitus
For tinnitus linked to the neck and jaw, physiotherapy is considered a first-line, evidence-supported treatment. Rather than treating the ear, treatment focuses on:
- Calming the abnormal nerve signals coming from tight neck and jaw muscles
- Restoring normal neck and jaw movement
- Releasing muscles that refer tension toward the ear
- Correcting the postures and habits that keep symptoms going
At EastWest Physiotherapy, your program is built around your specific pattern of symptoms.
Our Tinnitus Treatment Approach at EastWest Physiotherapy
Comprehensive One-to-One Assessment
Your physiotherapist will assess:
- Neck range of motion and joint mobility
- Jaw opening, movement, and TMJ function
- Muscle tension and trigger points in the neck, jaw, and shoulders
- Posture and workstation or device habits
- Whether specific movements or pressure points change your tinnitus
Manual Therapy & Trigger Point Release
Hands-on techniques are used to release tight, overactive muscles that are known to refer sensation toward the ear, including the jaw muscles, the muscles at the base of the skull, and the muscles along the side of the neck. Gentle mobilization of the upper neck joints and upper back is also used to reduce stiffness feeding into the pattern. See our manual therapy page for more detail.
Exercise Therapy
A graded exercise program retrains the deep neck muscles that support your head and neck, improves jaw control, and rebuilds posture that can otherwise keep symptoms flaring. Exercises are introduced gradually and are simple enough to continue at home between sessions. More on our exercise therapy approach here.
Acupuncture / Dry Needling
Intramuscular stimulation (IMS) can help release deep, hard-to-reach trigger points in the jaw and neck muscles and reduce overall muscle tension contributing to symptoms. Acupuncture can gently help relax tight musculature and decrease nerve sensitivity in the neck and jaw areas. Learn more about our acupuncture therapy and intramuscular stimulation.
Cupping Therapy
Cupping therapy may be used to ease tightness through the neck and shoulders, improve local circulation, and reduce muscle tension that builds up from clenching, poor posture, or prolonged desk work.
Electrotherapy & Therapeutic Modalities
When appropriate, we may use electrotherapy treatments such as ultrasound, TENS, Interferential, and other electrical currents to help reduce muscular and joint sensitivity in the affected regions. These treatments can reduce how much tinnitus interferes with daily life, alongside active, hands-on treatment. Where dizziness or balance symptoms are also present, we can incorporate vestibular rehabilitation.
Why Choose EastWest Physiotherapy for Tinnitus Treatment?
- One-to-one physiotherapy care
- Private treatment rooms
- Evidence-based Western rehabilitation
- Integrated Eastern techniques such as acupuncture and cupping
- Personalized treatment plans built around your own modulation pattern
- Convenient location near Brentwood, Willingdon Heights, and Metrotown
Frequently Asked Questions - Tendonitis Treatment
Can a physiotherapist actually help with ringing in the ears?
Yes, for tinnitus that’s connected to the neck or jaw. Physiotherapy is a well-supported treatment for this type of tinnitus, though it isn’t the right approach for every type. An assessment from our therapists will help confirm whether your pattern fits.
How is neck or jaw related tinnitus different from other tinnitus?
The defining feature is that it changes with movement. Jaw clenching, neck turning, or pressing on a tight muscle makes the sound louder, quieter, or shifts where you hear it. Tinnitus from hearing damage or other causes typically doesn’t change this way.
Will my tinnitus go away completely?
Many of our clients experience their tinnitus becoming noticeably quieter and less intrusive from the first treatment. Complete disappearance happens for some, but it isn’t something we can guarantee. A realistic and honest goal is a meaningful reduction in loudness and how much it bothers you.
Do I need to see an audiologist or ENT before starting physiotherapy?
If your tinnitus doesn’t beat with your heartbeat, isn’t one-sided with hearing loss, and isn’t paired with dizziness, facial changes, or a recent head injury, physiotherapy is a reasonable place to start. An audiology assessment is still a good idea at some point to establish your hearing baseline.
Can stress make my tinnitus worse?
Yes. Stress increases jaw clenching and neck muscle tension, exactly the muscles connected to this type of tinnitus, so managing stress is often part of a well-rounded plan.
What if my tinnitus doesn't change when I move my jaw or neck?
That’s useful information too. It suggests your tinnitus may not be driven by the neck or jaw, and a referral to audiology or another specialist may be more appropriate than a course of physiotherapy.
How many sessions will I need?
Most programs run for about 6 to 8 weeks, with sessions roughly twice a week alongside a home exercise program. Your physiotherapist will reassess your progress along the way and adjust the plan as needed.
Can acupuncture help with tinnitus on its own?
Acupuncture can be a helpful addition, particularly for easing muscle tension, and it works best as part of a broader plan that includes manual therapy and exercise rather than as a stand-alone treatment.
Book Tinnitus Physiotherapy in Burnaby
If ringing in the ears is affecting your focus, sleep, or daily life, an assessment can help determine whether your neck or jaw is playing a role, and whether physiotherapy can help.