Most people associate tinnitus with excessive noise exposure, such as the ringing that can follow a rock concert. However, tinnitus can also develop following a whiplash event, such as the rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head and neck that occurs during a motor vehicle collision. While a crash may involve loud noises that can temporarily affect hearing, the persistent nature of tinnitus associated with whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) suggests a different underlying mechanism.
Research in this area is ongoing, but the leading explanation involves a process known as somatosensory modulation. The nervous system has sensory receptors throughout the body that…
