Pain Symptom
Tinnitus
By Dr. Anthony J. Gordon, Doctor of Acupuncture | Last reviewed September 2026
There is a ringing, buzzing or hissing in your ears. You may have noticed it changes when you clench your jaw, turn your head or press on your neck. For some people, tinnitus is influenced by the muscles and nerves of the jaw and neck, a pattern called somatic tinnitus, and those contributors can be treated.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (516) 597-5400. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks.
Overview
Understanding Tinnitus
Tinnitus is the perception of sound, such as ringing, buzzing, hissing or humming, without an outside source. It is common and has many causes, including hearing loss, noise exposure, ear conditions, medications and blood vessel problems. An audiologist or ENT physician should evaluate tinnitus, especially if it is in one ear, pulses with your heartbeat, or comes with hearing loss or dizziness.
In somatic or somatosensory tinnitus, signals from the jaw and neck influence the hearing pathways in the brainstem. People with this pattern often notice their tinnitus changes with jaw clenching, head movement or pressure on the neck, and often have TMJ problems, neck pain or clenching. Treating the jaw and neck contributors can reduce the intensity for some people.
Dr. Gordon assesses whether your tinnitus has a somatic component and treats the jaw and neck muscles involved, coordinating with your audiologist or ENT.
Tinnitus at a Glance
Also called
Ringing in the ears, somatic or somatosensory tinnitus
Common causes
Hearing loss, noise exposure, ear conditions, medications, jaw and neck factors
Somatic clue
Tinnitus changes with jaw clenching, head movement or neck pressure
Evaluate first
Audiologist or ENT, especially for one-sided or pulsing tinnitus
What Dr. Gordon addresses
Jaw and neck muscle contributors
The Gap in Care
What Tests Check, and What They Can Miss
Tinnitus care often focuses on hearing and sound therapy. The jaw and neck contributors in somatic tinnitus are often not examined.
What routine testing is looking for
- Hearing loss
- Ear conditions
- Blood vessel causes of pulsing tinnitus
- Medication effects
What often keeps symptoms going
- Jaw muscle trigger points and clenching
- Neck muscle tension
- TMJ dysfunction
- Upper neck joint stiffness
- Stress that increases muscle tension
These are assessed by testing whether jaw and neck movements change your tinnitus.
Signs & Symptoms
Does This Sound Like You?
Symptoms vary from person to person. These are the patterns Dr. Gordon sees most often.
Ringing or buzzing
Constant or intermittent ringing, buzzing or hissing.
Changes with jaw movement
Tinnitus changing when you clench or open.
Changes with neck movement
Tinnitus changing with head turning or neck pressure.
Jaw or neck pain
TMJ or neck pain alongside tinnitus.
Ear fullness
A feeling of pressure in the ear.
Worse with stress
Tinnitus rising with stress or poor sleep.
Root Causes
The Four Drivers Dr. Gordon Looks For
Most people have more than one of these in play. Finding which one leads makes treatment more efficient.
Jaw muscle tension
Clenching and jaw trigger points influence hearing pathways.
Neck muscle tension
Neck muscles and joints feed signals that can modulate tinnitus.
TMJ dysfunction
Jaw joint problems are common in somatic tinnitus.
Stress
Stress increases muscle tension and tinnitus awareness.
Your First Visit
How Dr. Gordon Evaluates Tinnitus
The initial evaluation runs 60 to 75 minutes. You leave with a clear picture of what is driving your symptoms, a written plan, a realistic timeline, and in most cases your first treatment.
Records and history review
Dr. Gordon reviews your audiology or ENT evaluation, hearing test results and tinnitus history.
Somatic testing
Dr. Gordon tests whether jaw and neck movements change your tinnitus.
Jaw assessment
Assessment of the jaw muscles and joint.
Neck assessment
Assessment of the neck muscles and joints.
Plan and coordination
A clear plan, plus communication with your physician, orthopedist or physical therapist when that helps your care.
When to see a physician first
- Tinnitus in one ear only, or with sudden hearing loss
- Pulsing tinnitus that beats in time with your heart
- Tinnitus with dizziness, vertigo or facial weakness
- Tinnitus that started after a head injury
- A sudden change in your hearing
- Severe headache along with tinnitus
If you have any of these, contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency department.
Bring to your first visit
Records
Recent lab results, imaging reports and specialist notes. These can also be faxed ahead.
Treatment history
A short list of what you have tried and what did or did not help.
Clothing
Something comfortable and loose fitting.
Treatment
How Dr. Gordon Treats It
These are the tools Dr. Gordon uses most often for tinnitus, chosen from your exam findings.
Primary approach
Orthopedic Dry Needling
Dr. Gordon has used dry needling for more than 18 years. Treatment releases jaw and neck trigger points that can influence somatic tinnitus.
See all servicesNerve focus
Neuro-Functional Acupuncture
Acupuncture and electro-acupuncture around the jaw, neck and ear region.
See all servicesBetween visits
Tinnitus Plan & Team Coordination
Clenching, posture and stress guidance, coordinated with your audiologist or ENT.
Referring provider? Contact the clinicWhat to Expect
A Typical Recovery Arc
Visits 1 to 3
Find the main driver
Dr. Gordon confirms which muscles and nerves are behind your symptoms and starts calming the most reactive areas. Many people notice early changes between visits.
Visits 4 to 8
Lower the baseline
Day-to-day symptoms ease, flares become shorter and less frequent, and normal routines start to feel more manageable.
Visits 9 to 12 and beyond
Build resilience
Visits are spaced out as improvement holds. You leave with a maintenance and early-flare plan.
Most patients are seen weekly or every other week during active care. Individual results vary with how long symptoms have been present and how reactive they are. Progress is reassessed at every visit.
Not sure how to describe it? Put your pain or discomfort into words before your visit
"I had never had acupuncture before, and wasn't sure if it could help my TMJ and back/neck pain. He was very helpful and knowledgeable, and took the time to explain the process of acupuncture, my treatment plan, etc. ... Even after the first treatment, the relief of discomfort and increased mobility was incredible."
J.M. Hallock, Google Review
Tinnitus Questions
Answers About Tinnitus
Still unsure whether this is the right fit? Reach out before you book and Dr. Gordon will talk through your history with you.
There is no guaranteed cure. For people with a somatic component, treating the jaw and neck can reduce intensity for some.
If it changes when you clench, move your jaw, turn your head or press on your neck, it may have a somatic component.
Yes. A hearing evaluation is important for anyone with tinnitus.
Often. TMJ problems are common in people with somatic tinnitus.
Dr. Gordon usually suggests six to eight sessions and tracks changes.
Sudden hearing loss, one-sided tinnitus, pulsing tinnitus or tinnitus with dizziness needs prompt medical evaluation.
Before You Book
General Questions
The clinic is an out-of-network practice. The initial evaluation is $300 and follow-up visits are $250. After each visit you receive a detailed superbill to submit to your PPO plan for possible reimbursement. FSA and HSA cards are accepted, and the clinic can run a complimentary benefits check before your first appointment. The check is a courtesy, so please confirm your coverage with your plan. See Insurance & Fees for details. See Insurance & Fees for details.
The first evaluation is 60 to 75 minutes and usually includes treatment. Follow-up visits run 45 to 60 minutes.
Yes. Call (516) 597-5400 or send a message through the contact page. This is especially helpful if your case is complex and you want to understand the approach before committing to a full evaluation.
1508 Union Turnpike, Suite 133, North New Hyde Park, NY 11040, with free parking on site. The clinic is an easy drive from Manhasset, Great Neck, Garden City, Lake Success, Floral Park and Mineola. Early morning, evening and weekend hours are available.
Most people feel a quick muscle twitch or a deep ache that lasts a few seconds. That twitch is a normal sign the trigger point is releasing. Mild soreness for 24 to 48 hours afterward, similar to a hard workout, is common. Depth, angle and stimulation are adjusted to your comfort.
Both use the same fine, sterile, single-use needles. Dry needling targets specific trigger points and tight bands in muscle based on your exam. Neuro-functional acupuncture targets nerve pathways, often with gentle electrical stimulation, to calm nerve sensitivity. For tinnitus, Dr. Gordon commonly uses both.
When performed by a trained, licensed provider with detailed knowledge of anatomy, it has a strong safety record. Tell Dr. Gordon if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder, are pregnant or have a weakened immune system so he can plan accordingly.
About Dr. Anthony J. Gordon
Dr. Anthony J. Gordon is a Doctor of Acupuncture licensed in New York and board certified. He holds ASE certification in intrapelvic and extrapelvic dry needling, along with advanced certifications in Functional Dry Needling and Neuro-Functional Acupuncture. With more than 18 years of clinical experience and over 3,000 complex cases treated, he focuses on pelvic, spinal and orthopedic conditions that have not responded to standard care, and works closely with each patient's physicians and physical therapists.
Read Dr. Gordon's full bioBook an Evaluation for Tinnitus
Book an evaluation with Dr. Gordon and find out whether your tinnitus has a treatable somatic component.
Early morning, evening and weekend appointments available. Free on-site parking.
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