One trouble that sometimes follows this pinching is a slow loss of hearing, says one authority on TMJ disorders. He cites the case of a man who was losing his hearing and had been wearing a hearing aid for two years before he learned of equilibration. He had not noticed any discomfort at the joints in front of his ears, nor that his teeth were not meeting properly, but suspected that his teeth might somehow be causing stress. Se he went to his dentist, who made the necessary changes on the chewing surfaces of his teeth. Three days later, the patient’s hearing had improved to such an extent that he discarded his hearing aid. He has not needed it since. That was nine years ago, and his hearing is still good.

Not all patients respond so quickly nor so completely as that, of course, and there are many other causes of deafness, the authority points out — but pressure at the TMJ should not be overlooked.