Psychoacoustic characteristics of tinnitus in temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review

To describe the psychoacoustic characteristics of tinnitus in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). RESEARCH STRATEGIES: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, with the protocol registered in PROSPERO (CRD42025649038). Searches were performed in Embase, LILACS, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, using validated MeSH and DeCS terms....

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✦ The floor

Discussion

Signed responses from readers of the wire.

✦ Clinical Takeaway ✦

Clinicians treating tinnitus should be aware of the possible jaw-ear connection via TMD, but this systematic review characterises the problem rather than recommending a specific treatment change; no immediate protocol shift is warranted.

✦ Why It Matters ✦

Understanding the psychoacoustic profile of TMD-associated tinnitus may help audiologists and dental professionals better identify, characterise, and eventually manage this frequently overlooked overlap condition.

✦ Key Points ✦

01Systematic review synthesises evidence on psychoacoustic tinnitus features (pitch, loudness, masking) in TMD patients.
02TMD is a jaw joint/muscle disorder that is increasingly recognised as a contributor to somatic tinnitus.
03Pitch and loudness matching, and minimum masking levels, are the key measurement variables reviewed.
04Findings may support interdisciplinary collaboration between audiologists and dental/orofacial pain specialists.
05Published in CoDAS, a peer-reviewed audiology and communication disorders journal.

✦ Claims & Evidence ✦

ClaimEvidenceSupport

Patients with temporomandibular disorders present with characterisable psychoacoustic tinnitus properties including distinct pitch, loudness, and masking levels.

studypartially supported

✦ Research metadata ✦

PMID: 42524936
DOI: 10.1590/2317-1782/e20250343pt.
Journal: CoDAS
Publication type: review
Evidence level: 2a
Population: Patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and concurrent tinnitus
Intervention: Characterisation of tinnitus psychoacoustic properties in TMD (pitch, loudness, masking levels)

Primary outcomes

Tinnitus pitch matching; Tinnitus loudness matching; Minimum masking levels

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