Diagnosing and treating tinnitus linked to head, neck, or jaw problems
Developing Tools and a Care Path for Somatosensory Tinnitus
This project develops a screening test and a physical-therapy treatment for people—especially Veterans—whose tinnitus changes with head, neck, jaw, or eye movements.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Portland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11220705 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your tinnitus changes right after moving your head, neck, jaw, or eyes, researchers are building a simple screening test to identify that form of tinnitus and teaching physical therapists specific exam and treatment steps. They will refine and validate the diagnostic screen, create step-by-step therapy procedures for clinicians, and run a randomized clinical trial comparing the new physical therapy approach to usual audiology care. The work is focused on Veterans but the findings could apply to anyone with movement-modulated tinnitus. Participation would likely include movement and physical exams, therapy sessions, and follow-up hearing and symptom checks.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People—particularly Veterans—whose tinnitus pitch or loudness changes immediately after head, neck, jaw, eye, or forceful muscle movements and who can attend clinic visits are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Those whose tinnitus does not change with somatic movements or whose tinnitus is clearly from inner-ear or central nervous system causes are less likely to benefit from the musculoskeletal-focused treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians could identify people whose tinnitus is driven by musculoskeletal problems and reduce symptoms with targeted physical therapy.
How similar studies have performed: Small pilot studies and case series suggest some people can modulate tinnitus with somatic maneuvers and that physical therapy approaches show promise, but large randomized trials are still limited.
Where this research is happening
Portland, United States
- Portland VA Medical Center — Portland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Theodoroff, Sarah — Portland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Theodoroff, Sarah
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.