Cervical Spine Related Hearing Loss and Neck Pain Relief with Chiropractic
The classic story of the first chiropractic adjustment by DD Palmer, the founder of chiropractic, details the hearing restoration of a deaf janitor after spinal manipulation. (1) So interesting! Today’s research studies help clarify and confirm the connection of hearing and cervical spine pain issues. Young Chiropractic hears reports of improvement in Easley chiropractic patients for issues not always related to the issue that brought them into Young Chiropractic for chiropractic care. Patients are thrilled! Young Chiropractic is pleased for them. Let’s reflect on this side-effect of hearing loss recovery after chiropractic spinal manipulation.
THE HEARING AND CERVICAL SPINE CONNECTION
Hearing loss is not that unusual with cervical spine problems. The connection of cervical spine and hearing has been presented in the medical literature for decades. In 1994, one author submitted 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 tied conditions 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) Easley chiropractic patients recount such problems occasionally, so Young Chiropractic is not shocked at all.
Cervical spine issues can affect ear vessels and/or nerves bringing about hearing loss, vertigo or tinnitus. Cervical spine injuries can cause pain and limits in range of motion. The possibility 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 linking the cervical spine to hearing function. Researchers are working to find 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 extending to the cochlear nucleus. (4) Patients who have Kimmerle’s anomaly – an anatomical variant of the first cervical segment (C1) – often have chronic tension-type headaches and neurosensory-type hearing loss. (5) What does this indicate about the connection between hearing and the cervical spine? A connection. Young Chiropractic considers this when treating Easley cervical spine pain patients who have a hearing loss or deficit.
CHIROPRACTIC HELP FOR Easley HEARING LOSS RELATED TO CERVICAL SPINE ISSUES
Since that first chiropractic adjustment in 1895, chiropractic has recorded improvement for more cases of hearing issues. A study of 90 patients who had cervicogenic sudden hearing loss reported that those who underwent chiropractic treatment in addition to routine medical care bettered 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 graded her problems a 7 at the beginning of care and a 1 at the end of 5 months of care. An audiogram was normal, too. (7) These are pleasing outcomes that Easley hearing loss patients could accept! Young Chiropractic is prepared for the chance to help!
CONSIDER Young Chiropractic FOR RELIEF
Listen to this PODCAST about how Cox Technic eases cervical spine related neck pain and shoulder pain.
Schedule a Easley chiropractic appointment to explore how Young Chiropractic may help relieve cervical spine issues, neck pain and even possibly cervical spine related hearing loss.
