”What did you say?” Does this sound familiar when chatting with your senior parents or grandparents (and sometimes your children)? Hearing loss is so common. It is practically a foregone conclusion as we age. Does it have to be that way? Researchers are looking at it, and New Hampshire Spine and Sport is following the study to incorporate into our nutrition care! Vitamin D deficiency is again deemed a culprit in this side-effect of aging.
HEARING LOSS IN ADULTS
Quite a few older Southern New Hampshire adults suffer hearing loss. It is annoying, but new research provides some direction on how to possibly avert it. A group of researchers indicated that older people are at risk of hearing loss and osteoporosis. Vitamin D levels are tested in both conditions. Bone mineral density and hearing loss have been linked. These researchers found that low vitamin D levels were associated to low-frequency and speech-frequency hearing loss as were 1-unit reductions in femoral neck BMD and total spine BMD. (1) An additional study of participants without apparent hearing loss – 30 low in vitamin D, 30 low in vitamin B12, 30 controls – found that B12 and vitamin D deficiencies were significantly associated with cochlear ear health and function. It was recommended that patients with these vitamin deficiencies should also be examined for cochlear function. (2) New Hampshire Spine and Sport proposes starting with a test of your vitamin levels!
HEARING LOSS IN CHILDREN
In children who have vitamin D deficiency, 53.4% experienced hearing loss with 17% experiencing moderate-profound hearing loss. These children (as well as children with low calcium levels) were more apt to have sensorineural hearing loss, a type of hearing loss that is less liable to get better over time. Children with vitamin D deficiency as well as a femur fracture, a significantly higher rate of hearing loss was seen. Children with low calcium levels were found to be at higher risk of moderate-profound hearing loss. (3) New Hampshire Spine and Sport looks out for the kids, too. Their vitamin levels and hearing need testing, too!
SUDDEN ONSET HEARING LOSS AND VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY
Sudden Sensory Neural Hearing Loss is another type of hearing loss that requires special attention in adults or children. When this sort of hearing loss is encountered, steroids are a common treatment. Patients with adequate vitamin D levels recovered completely. 87.5% of patients with vitamin D deficiency and 12.5% of patients with insufficient vitamin D levels did not respond at all. Vitamin D was more evident in SSNHL patients than healthy patients. (4) Vitamin D is so important!
CONTACT New Hampshire Spine and Sport
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates the nutritional care of the disc and spine in The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your Southern New Hampshire chiropractic appointment now. Whether you are fed up with being the one asking “Huh?” or answering “Huh?,” you and your vitamin D levels are of consequence to us! Let’s test them out for your hearing loss risk and your risk of osteoporosis’ sake.