The timeless account of the first chiropractic adjustment by DD Palmer, the founder of chiropractic, involves the hearing restoration of a deaf janitor after spinal manipulation. (1) Fascinating! Today’s research studies help clarify and confirm the connection of hearing and cervical spine pain issues. New Hampshire Spine and Sport hears stories of improvement in Southern New Hampshire chiropractic patients for issues not always related to the issue that brought them into New Hampshire Spine and Sport for chiropractic care. Patients are thrilled! New Hampshire Spine and Sport is pleased for them. Let us consider this side-effect of hearing loss improvement after chiropractic spinal manipulation.
THE HEARING AND CERVICAL SPINE CONNECTION
Hearing loss is not that uncommon with cervical spine problems. The association of cervical spine and hearing has been considered in the medical publications for decades. In 1994, one author presented a discussion of the existence of a “vertebragenic hearing disorder” that comes with tinnitus, a feeling of ear pressure, otalgia and deafness due to functional deficit of the upper cervical spine. He attached issues like cervical vertigo and hearing disorders in 15% of patients with cervical spine issues and hearing losses of 5 to 25 decibels in 40% of them. (2) Southern New Hampshire chiropractic patients report such problems sometimes, so New Hampshire Spine and Sport is not shocked at all.
Cervical spine issues can affect ear vessels and/or nerves causing hearing loss, vertigo or tinnitus. Cervical spine injuries can produce pain and limits in range of motion. The chance of hearing loss in patients with limited left rotation ability is high. Such hearing loss after a cervical spine injury is more common in men. (3) Further, there is evidence of interaction between the somatosensory and auditory brainstem structures, a pathway joining the cervical spine to hearing function. Researchers are working to describe the pathway and understand better how spinal nerves like those of C2 (the second cervical spine segment) have an effect on auditory responses (hearing). They have found projections from C2 dorsal root ganglion stretching to the cochlear nucleus. (4) Patients who have Kimmerle’s anomaly – an anatomical variant of the first cervical segment (C1) – often suffer with chronic tension-type headaches and neurosensory-type hearing loss. (5) What does this say about the connection between hearing and the cervical spine? A connection. New Hampshire Spine and Sport considers this when caring for Southern New Hampshire cervical spine pain patients who have a hearing loss or deficit.
CHIROPRACTIC HELP FOR Southern New Hampshire HEARING LOSS RELATED TO CERVICAL SPINE ISSUES
Since that first chiropractic adjustment in 1895, chiropractic has documented improvement for more patients with hearing issues. A study of 90 patients who had cervicogenic sudden hearing loss recorded that those who underwent chiropractic treatment in addition to routine medical care recovered their hearing and relieved their neck pain effectively after 10 days of care. (6) A case of hearing loss and tinnitus associated with cervicogenic neck pain in a female patient whose hearing and tinnitus were improved after undergoing chiropractic spinal manipulation treatment. On a scale of 0 (no problem) to 10 (complete impairment), she rated her problems a 7 at the start of care and a 1 at the conclusion of 5 months of care. An audiogram was normal, too. (7) These are gratifying outcomes that Southern New Hampshire hearing loss patients could embrace! New Hampshire Spine and Sport is up for the opportunity to help!
CONSIDER New Hampshire Spine and Sport FOR RELIEF
Listen to this PODCAST about how Cox Technic eases cervical spine related neck pain and shoulder pain.
Schedule a Southern New Hampshire chiropractic visit to experience how New Hampshire Spine and Sport may help ease cervical spine problems, neck pain and even possibly cervical spine related hearing loss.