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Otology/Neurotology

(325) Myofascial Release Therapy for Somatosensory Tinnitus

Monday, October 2, 2023
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM East Coast USA Time

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Kelly Lee, B.S.

    Medical Student
    Zucker School of Medicine
    Hempstead, New York, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • RA

    Richard Adamovich-Zeitlin, B.S.

    Medical Student
    Zucker School of Medicine
    Astoria, New York, United States

    • Senior Author(s)

  • Maja Svrakic, MD

    Associate Professor
    Northwell Health Otolayrngology
    New Hyde Park, NY, United States

Disclosure(s):
Richard Adamovich-Zeitlin, B.S.: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Kelly Lee, B.S.: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Maja Svrakic, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.


Introduction: Despite the high prevalence of concurrent tinnitus and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD), few studies analyze the relationship of these symptoms and the treatment options for these patients. Patients with somatosensory tinnitus may benefit from specific therapies that are ineffective for those driven solely by sensorineural hearing loss. It is crucial to identify the criteria of a patient presenting with somatosensory tinnitus who should be referred to myofascial release therapy (MFRT), and to determine the effectiveness and pitfalls of MFRT for these patients.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 65 patients seen in an outpatient office by one neurotologist between 2015 and 2022 with the chief concern of tinnitus along with a concurrent diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disorder. All of these patients received a referral to myofascial release therapy (MFRT) and were subsequently surveyed about their experience. Main outcome measures being studied are prevalence of tinnitus among TMJD patients, duration of symptoms, characteristic of tinnitus in patients with TMJD, effect of MFRT treatment on tinnitus, and barriers to MFRT.

Results: 38% of patients presenting to the clinic with TMJD also complain of tinnitus. Of these patients, 42% have normal hearing on audiogram or sensorineural hearing loss in a different frequency range than that of their tinnitus, most likely of somatosensory etiology. 93% of patients with somatosensory tinnitus who followed up with MFRT reported subjective improvement in their tinnitus, compared to 22% of those with tinnitus due to sensorineural hearing loss with concurrent TMJD. There was a sustained decrease in tinnitus symptoms in 86% of somatosensory patients who reported improvements after MFRT.

Conclusions: Myofascial release therapy is an effective treatment for patients suffering from TMJD and tinnitus with a normal audiogram; however, it does not seem to improve symptoms of patients with sensorineural hearing loss contributing to their tinnitus. MFRT offers sustained benefits for patients suffering from somatosensory tinnitus.