Tensor Tympani Syndrome/Stapedial Myoclonus Therapy
Kalavant Center
About 1 1/2 years ago I started experiencing a twitch inside my left
ear, which gradually increased in frequency and intensity. A couple of
months ago I started searching around the internet for answers and
came across the Hyperacusis Network Message Board. From what I learned
from postings there, it's pretty clear to me I developed tensor
tympani syndrome and/or stapedial mycolonus in my left ear. I wasn't
happy to hear from people posting that surgery was the only option.
I had a serious neck and shoulder injury for which I have done an
extensive amount of physical therapy, and one thing I have learned is
that muscles that have grown weak have a tendency to twitch, and so I
deduced that there must be some weakness in the muscles and tendons in
my ear and the result is the twitching. The big question though is how
in the world do you exercise the muscles in your ear to strengthen
them?
Well, I thought let me try and see what happens, and I'm happy to
report that I have had good success with the exercises I've been
doing. There are two exercises, one that I came up with myself, and
the other I took from a book on yoga type exercises.
The exercise I came up with myself is simply repeatedly squeezing the
eyes tightly shut for 3-4 seconds (which causes the muscles in the ear
to contract) and then relaxing them. I started this exercise by doing
a set of 20 repetitions once or twice a day and now do close to 40
repetitions. In the beginning, after doing the exercise you might
notice a slight tickling sensation, a sensation of warmth, or a slight
sharp pain which comes and goes inside the ear (all signs that the
muscles/tendons are improving in strength and flexibility). I noticed
that in the beginning doing the exercise would actually cause my ear
to twitch just after having performed the exercise, although in time
this stopped happening. Also, whenever my ear would begin to twitch as
it did on a random basis, I would do the exercise and hold the
contraction of muscles (squeezing the eyes tightly shut) for a
slightly longer time (like 5-6 seconds) for a number of repetitions
and this would actually cause the ear twitching to subside. When I do
the exercise now, I do notice that the muscles in the left ear feel
weaker than those of the right ear, although stronger since having
started doing the above exercise. The twitching now rarely happens and
only very briefly and I suspect over time with regular exercise the
condition will be completely healed.
The second exercise goes like this:
Place the index fingers of each hand on the outside of the ears and
fold over the outside flaps of skin which lie next to the opening of
the inner ear canal, so that you seal off the ear from the outside.
Using the tips of your middle fingers, tap gently on the fingernails
of your index fingers. When done properly, you will hear a metallic
sound much like the beating of a drum. Tap a regular rhythm, slowly,
twelve to thirty six times. Pause. Then repeat for a total of three
times.
These exercises have brought me great relief and I hope that those of
you who try them also find success. I would be happy to know that
these exercises have prevented sufferers of this annoying condition
from having to gone through a surgery that could be costly and
unnecessary. Of course, the exercises may not prove successful for all
those that attempt them, and some may find surgery the only option,
but I would be willing to bet that anyone who practices these
exercises regularly, on a daily basis will find some relief if not
complete recovery. And remember to be patient and persistent. I think
most people should notice some improvement within a couple of weeks to
a month. Good luck!