Do you hear ringing, buzzing, or other sounds in your ears that aren’t really there? You might think the problem is with your ears. But sometimes, the real problem is in your neck.

This is called cervical somatic tinnitus. That’s a big name for when your neck causes ringing in your ears.

How Does Your Neck Cause Ringing in Your Ears?

Your neck and ears are connected through your nerves. The top bones in your neck (called C1 and C2) have nerve pathways that go to the parts of your brain that handle hearing.

When these neck bones get out of place or the muscles get tight, they can send wrong signals to your brain. Your brain thinks these signals are sounds, so you hear ringing or buzzing even when it’s quiet.

Signs That Your Neck Might Be Causing Your Tinnitus

Doctors have found specific signs that show when neck problems cause tinnitus. You might have this type of tinnitus if you have at least one of these:

Look for These Signs:

1. You hurt your head or neck – Maybe from a car crash, sports injury, or bad fall
2. The ringing changes when you move – It gets louder or softer when you move your jaw, clench your teeth, or turn your neck
3. You get head, neck, or shoulder pain – And it seems connected to the ringing in your ears
4. Both started at the same time – Your neck pain and ear ringing began around the same time
5. Some positions make it worse – The ringing gets stronger when you sit, stand, walk, or sleep in certain ways
6. You grind your teeth – You clench or grind your teeth a lot, especially at night
7. Your hearing is fine – Tests show you don’t have hearing loss or damage from loud noises

Ref – (Sanchez and Rocha, 2011) 

Why This Happens

The top bones in your neck sit very close to important nerves. When these bones move out of place, several things can happen:

• The nerves get irritated
• Your muscles get tight and sore
• Blood flow to your ears gets reduced
• Your neck sends wrong signals to your brain
• Your brain thinks these signals are sounds

How We Can Help

The good news is that this type of tinnitus can often be fixed. We take care of the neck problems that are causing the ear ringing.

Here’s what we do:

• Fix the bone alignment – We gently move your neck bones back to the right position.
• Relax tight muscles – We help your neck and jaw muscles feel better.
• Improve blood flow – Better alignment helps blood flow normally to your ears.

What to Expect

Many people start feeling better as their neck gets healthier. But remember:

• Everyone is different.
• Some people get better quickly, others take more time.
• How long you’ve had the problem can affect how long it takes to get you better.
• Things like stress, sleep, and posture all matter too.

Ready to Feel Better?

If these signs sound like what you’re going through, your neck might be causing your tinnitus. We can check your neck and see if upper cervical chiropractic might help you.

Many people with this problem get much better when we fix their neck issues. The ringing can get quieter or even go away completely.

If you have ringing in your ears, neck pain or headaches, please book in a complimentary discovery call and we can talk. We might be able to help you feel better and get rid of that annoying ringing.

Reference 

1. Sanchez TG, Rocha CB. Diagnosis and management of somatosensory tinnitus: review article. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2011;66(6):1089-94. doi: 10.1590/s1807-59322011000600028. PMID: 21808880; PMCID: PMC3129953.