Q&A

Subject: Scuffle

From: B

I am 23 years old. I recently got into a scuffle with someone and this person put me in a headlock for about 10 seconds. His arm was pressed hard up against my left ear and now I have hearing problems in that ear. It seems that when other people talk, there is no problem-- but when I talk, there is some sound distortion in my left ear. I went to an ear doctor and upon examining me, he said that there appeared to be nothing wrong and that my hearing was perfectly normal. But it ISN'T!!! If ANYONE has ANY advice they could give me I would be ever so grateful!!! I'm desperate!!! Please help!!!!! Thanks very much in advance.

Dear B,

Your complaint is not as isolated as you may think! AND, though your symptoms appear in your hearing, the problem is more likely treated by your dentist. That headlock may well have bruised or otherwise injured your jaw joint called the "temporomandibular joint" or TMJ for short. Problems with this joint are often perceived as hearing problems...muffling perception to sound IN THE PRESENCE OF NORMAL HEARING.

Talk to your dentist. Having ruled out a problem with your auditory system, your dentist will be in a good position to evaluate that TMJ which, in my experience, could well account for all your symptoms. I have seen lots of folks who use a bite plate to get the correct alignment back and the symptoms go away!

Good Luck and cut out that scuffling!
Solveig