Can TMJ Cause Whooshing in Ear?
TMJ disorders do not typically cause "whooshing" sounds in the ear, though they are a common cause of ear pain and other auditory symptoms like ear fullness, tinnitus, and altered hearing. The "whooshing" sound you describe is more characteristic of pulsatile tinnitus, which requires evaluation for vascular causes rather than TMJ pathology.
What TMJ Actually Causes in the Ear
The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery recognizes TMJ syndrome as perhaps the most common cause of referred otalgia (ear pain) when ear canal swelling and middle ear disease are absent 1. However, the specific auditory symptoms associated with TMJ disorders include:
- Ear fullness - reported by 49% of TMJ patients, making it the most frequent ear symptom 2
- Tinnitus (ringing, not whooshing) - commonly reported but non-pulsatile 2
- Altered hearing sensitivity - associated with muscle pain on palpation on the same side 2
- Ear pain - radiating to the periauricular area, temple, or neck 1
72% of TMJ patients report some form of ear symptoms, but "whooshing" is not among the characteristic presentations 2.
Why Whooshing Suggests a Different Problem
A "whooshing" sound in the ear typically describes pulsatile tinnitus - a rhythmic sound synchronized with your heartbeat. This suggests:
- Vascular causes requiring urgent evaluation (carotid stenosis, arteriovenous malformations, venous sinus abnormalities)
- Increased intracranial pressure
- Vascular tumors (glomus tumors)
These conditions are anatomically and pathophysiologically distinct from TMJ disorders and require different diagnostic workup.
Clinical Examination to Differentiate
If you suspect TMJ as the cause of ear symptoms, look for these specific findings 1, 3:
- Tenderness over the TMJ on palpation
- Crepitus (clicking or popping) with jaw movement
- Pain radiating to periauricular area, temple, or neck
- History of bruxism, gum chewing, or recent dental procedures with malocclusion
- Normal ear canal and tympanic membrane on otoscopic examination 3
- Pain worsening with jaw function (chewing, speaking) 4
If the patient describes a rhythmic whooshing sound, especially if it's pulsatile, TMJ is unlikely to be the cause and vascular evaluation is warranted.
When TMJ Is the Diagnosis
If clinical examination confirms TMJ disorder with ear symptoms (but not whooshing), first-line management includes 3:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy with biofeedback/relaxation therapy - provides the greatest pain relief
- Therapist-assisted jaw mobilization - substantial pain reduction
- Manual trigger point therapy - significant pain relief
- Supervised jaw exercise and stretching - important pain relief
- Supervised postural exercise - important pain relief
Avoid occlusal splints, acetaminophen with muscle relaxants, gabapentin, benzodiazepines, corticosteroid injections, and NSAIDs with opioids 3.
Critical Red Flags
The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery emphasizes that older patients with tobacco/alcohol use history or younger patients with HPV risk factors presenting with ear pain require complete head and neck examination to rule out upper aerodigestive tract cancer presenting as referred otalgia 1, 3.
Bottom Line
TMJ disorders cause ear fullness, non-pulsatile tinnitus, and referred ear pain - not whooshing sounds. If your patient describes whooshing, investigate vascular and neurological causes first. If TMJ is confirmed as the source of other ear symptoms, initiate conservative management with CBT, manual therapy, and supervised exercises while avoiding invasive procedures and long-term medications 3.