Why you've tried everything and still don't feel right
The seven-minute visit, and the one question the system was never built to ask.
upper cervical care · ann arbor, michigan
Ringing in the ears that nobody can explain
The ringing is loudest when the house goes quiet at night. The hearing test came back fine, and the advice was to learn to tune it out.
what it often looks like
What people with tinnitus often describe
- Ringing, hissing or buzzing that is loudest in a quiet room
- Ringing that changes when you move your jaw or turn your head
- A full feeling in the ear, sometimes with dizziness
- Trouble falling asleep because of the sound
Why it is often missed. A hearing test checks how well you hear. When the result is normal, the ringing is often filed as something to live with. Whether the jaw, the upper neck or the nervous system is part of it is seldom asked.
Why the upper neck may be involved. Some people's ringing changes when they clench the jaw or move the head. This is called somatic tinnitus, and it points to the nerves of the upper neck and jaw, which feed into the same brainstem area that processes sound. It doesn't apply to everyone, which is why we measure.
what the research looked at
Four published studies on tinnitus
Published 2000 to 2026. The strongest design among them: case report. Each one is summarized in plain words in our research library: who was studied, what was measured, what was found, and where it falls short.
- A 44-year-old office worker with three years of vertigo and suspected Ménière's disease
- A 68-year-old woman with eight years of Ménière's disease
- A 41-year-old woman with jaw problems, ear pain, ringing and vertigo
- A 75-year-old woman with vertigo, ringing in the ears and hearing loss
All four are single-person case reports, and in each one the ringing was one symptom among several. No controlled study on this list has measured tinnitus on its own. Hearing changes deserve a proper hearing evaluation as well.
The tinnitus studies, by design and year
how we measure
The Lazar Method™ measures first
Everyone else told you what might work. We measure before anything is decided. Digital X-ray shows the alignment of the upper neck, PostureIQ™ measures how your body carries your head, and the nerve scans show how hard your nervous system is working.
Before any correction we measure how your nervous system is regulating your body: heart rate variability, thermal and muscle tone scans, PostureIQ™, and digital X-ray of the upper neck. Dr. Jonathan Lazar, D.C., or someone personally trained by him, will go over your scans and images with you. QSM3, the method used at our office, is a progression of NUCCA, and the correction is gentle and specific: no cracking, no twisting.
If we can help, we'll tell you. If we can't, we'll help you find someone who can.
Please note: Ringing in one ear only, sudden hearing loss, or ringing that pulses with your heartbeat should be checked by a doctor first.
This page is educational and is not medical advice. Keep the doctors who know you in the loop.
Your doctor. QSM3 Level M Certified. One of eight doctors in the world. In practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan, since 2008. About Dr. Lazar
the dr. lazar show
Hear how Dr. Lazar thinks before you call
Heard for 17 years on WMUZ 103.5 FM, The Dr. Lazar Show is now on YouTube and as a podcast. There is no episode on tinnitus on its own yet. These two are where most people start.
The Lazar Method™: how we actually reset the system
The five steps on air for the first time: measure, identify, clarify, correct, restore, and what gets measured before anything else.
traveling for care
Coming from another state, or hours away?
People drive from across Michigan because nothing closer worked. If you live hours away, or in another state, working out the days, the hotel and the records shouldn't be yours to carry alone. Our office is at 203 S. Zeeb Rd, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Traveling with a child? Families welcome.
- IntensiveIntensive programs
Your assessment, your Report of Findings and a concentrated block of corrections in one stay in Ann Arbor, usually one to two weeks, set at your Report of Findings. We read your records before you travel, so you only make the trip if it makes sense. The prices are itemized on the page.
- StayStaying in Ann Arbor
A negotiated medical rate for patients and their families at the Holiday Inn & Suites Ann Arbor, with breakfast, Wi-Fi and parking included.
- RemoteRemote care
Can't travel to Ann Arbor at all? Dr. Lazar works with a small number of remote patients. The correction itself is hands-on, so when your case needs it, we'll tell you, and help you find a qualified upper cervical provider near you.
questions
Questions people ask about tinnitus
Still have a question? Call 734.274.5107, or book a 15-minute Clarity Call, a phone call with our team and no commitment. Cost and insurance are answered plainly on the FAQ page.
Take the free Ringing Assessment. Five questions about your ringing, dizziness or hearing changes, in about two minutes. Your answers go only to our office. Start it here.
Keep reading
Can neck problems cause ringing in the ears?
For some people the neck and jaw seem to play a part. If your ringing changes when you clench your jaw or turn your head, mention it: that is called somatic tinnitus, and it involves the nerves of the upper neck and jaw. Many cases have other causes, so a hearing evaluation matters too.
What does research say about upper cervical care for tinnitus?
All four published studies we found are single-person case reports, and in each one the ringing was one symptom among several, alongside vertigo or jaw problems. No controlled study has measured tinnitus on its own. That is thin evidence, and we would rather tell you so than let a case report sound like a promise.
What is the Ringing Assessment?
It is five questions about your ringing, dizziness or hearing changes: when it started, and whether it changes when you move your head or jaw. It takes about two minutes, your answers go only to our office, and at the end you see what your answers mean. It is a first step, not a diagnosis.
Should I see an audiologist first?
If you haven't had a hearing evaluation, yes. Ringing in one ear only, sudden hearing loss, or ringing that pulses with your heartbeat should be checked by a doctor first. If those come back normal and the ringing still runs your nights, measuring the upper neck is a reasonable next question.
tried everything
When nothing else has worked, start with clarity.
In about 4 minutes, you'll see whether your symptoms point to nervous system dysfunction, and exactly what to do next. Free. Your answers stay private. No spam, ever.
Prefer to talk first?
or call 734.274.5107 · ready to come in? Book your complimentary consultation
Screening adapted from the autonomic dysfunction screening developed by Bruce Bell, MD.
A member of our team will reach out within one business day.