An Alternative and Natural Treatment for Tinnitus

What is Tinnitus? 

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in one or both ears in the absence of any external sound. Tinnitus is sometimes described as a phantom sound, like hearing a ringing telephone or a wind chime when no one is around. 

Tinnitus is usually an indication of some type of ear injury, hearing loss, or a problem with auditory nerve connections to the brain. Common causes of these injuries are ear infections, head trauma, noise exposure, and vertebral misalignments. 

Signs and Symptoms of Tinnitus

The signs and symptoms of tinnitus are wide-ranging. The most commonly cited symptoms of tinnitus are hearing loss and disturbance of hearing. This disturbance of hearing may include a ringing, hissing, or buzzing sound, or even a roaring or whistling sound in the inner ear.

How the Upper Cervical Spine Effects Tinnitus

The upper cervical spine is a set of seven vertebrae that support and protect the base of the skull and brainstem. As a result, the health of these vertebrae is vital to the proper function of the brain and central nervous system (CNS). 

If there is a misalignment in the upper cervical spine, it can lead to direct interference in the normal function of the CNS. This interference is often caused by inflammation around the brainstem and inner. Specifically, misalignment-induced inflammation can disrupt the transmission and reception of signals between the CNS and key auditory processing pathways in the inner ear, such as the vestibulocochlear nerve.

How Our Tinnitus Treatment Works

Our tinnitus treatment utilizes a combination of chiropractic and manual therapy to reduce inflammation and restore proper structure and function to the upper cervical spine. At our office, this treatment begins with a comprehensive examination of your upper cervical spine. This process usually involves a combination of cone-beam computed tomography scans and digital X-rays. 

Once we have analyzed your upper cervical spine, our expert chiropractor, Dr. Hoefer, will target the affected vertebrae with a series of precise and gentle chiropractic adjustments. The goal of this treatment is to restore proper spinal alignment, reduce local inflammation, and improve nerve function in the inner ear. Once your treatment is complete, you should notice an immediate improvement in both the frequency and severity of tinnitus, if not complete relief from the condition.

If you’re tired of suffering from tinnitus, we’re here to help! Dr. Hoefer services patients in Orange County, including Anaheim, Rancho Santa Margarita, Dana Point, San Clemente, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, and Santa Ana.