Massage Therapy Journal Spring 2026

52 • Massage Therapy Journal

AMTA Continuing Education

The sound may be soft or loud, low or high pitched, and appear to be coming from one or both ears. Tinnitus is not a condition alone, but is instead a symptom of an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, ear injury or circulatory system disorder. 29 To work effectively with clients who have tinnitus, massage therapists need to understand the anatomy of the ear. The ear is divided into three parts: outer, middle and inner. 31 • The outer ear funnels sound waves toward the eardrum and consists of the external canal. • The middle ear bones mechanically transmit the sound waves and consist of the eardrum, malleus, incus, stapes and eustachian tube. • The inner ear translates the sound waves into nerve messages that are sent to the brain and consists of the vestibulo-cochlear nerve and the cochlea. Causes of tinnitus: • Age-related hearing loss : Hearing loss can worsen with age, usually starting around the age of 60, due to the deterioration of the cochlea. • Exposure to loud noise : Heavy equipment, chain saws and firearms are common sources of noise-related hearing loss. Devices such as MP3s or iPods, or even a loud concert, can also cause tinnitus. • Earwax blockage : When too much earwax accumulates, hearing loss and tinnitus can occur. • Ear bone changes : Stiffening of the bones in your

middle ear (otosclerosis) may affect your hearing and cause tinnitus. • Blood vessel disorders : Atherosclerosis, head and neck tumors, high blood pressure (HBP), turbulent blood flow (narrowing), or malformation of capillaries can also be causes of tinnitus. • Certain drugs : Aspirin, several types of antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and antidepressants , as well as quinine medications, may cause tinnitus. Tinnitus is cited as a potential side effect for hundreds of prescription and nonprescription drugs. 32 • Meniere’s disease : This condition is a disease of the inner ear that can cause dizziness, tinnitus and hearing loss. • Other medical conditions : HBP, cardiovascular disease, circulatory problems, anemia, allergies, an underactive thyroid gland, autoimmune disease and diabetes are some chronic conditions that can cause tinnitus. • Neck or jaw problems : Temporomandibular syndrome is known to cause tinnitus in some people. • Injuries to the head and neck can result in tinnitus. Some other factors that increase tinnitus symptoms are alcohol consumption, smoking, drinking caffeinated beverages or eating certain foods. For reasons not yet entirely clear to researchers, stress and fatigue seem to worsen the condition.

Tinnitus Facts • Over 500 million people worldwide suffer from tinnitus, including 40 million Americans . • Tinnitus usually starts in your 40s , but risk increases at the age of 50 for both men and women. • Over 50% of tinnitus sufferers are male.

• Over 70% experience poor sleep due to tinnitus. • Over 70% say tinnitus reduces their quality of life. • Tinnitus is the leading service-related disability among U.S. veterans . • Tinnitus is often linked to hearing loss.

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