The traditional 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 reports
help explain and confirm the connection
of hearing and cervical spine pain issues. Back And Neck Care Center hears reports
of improvement in Severna Park chiropractic patients for seemingly unrelated things that brought them
into Back And Neck Care Center for chiropractic care. Patients are delighted!
Back And Neck Care Center is excited for them. Let’s contemplate this side-effect of hearing loss recovery after
chiropractic spinal manipulation.
THE HEARING AND CERVICAL SPINE CONNECTION
Hearing loss is not that rare with
cervical spine problems. The connection
of cervical spine and hearing has been presented in
the medical literature for years and years. In
1994, one author gave an idea 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)
Severna Park chiropractic patients report such issues
occasionally, so Back And Neck Care Center is not surprised
at all.
Cervical spine issues can affect ear vessels and/or nerves resulting
in hearing loss, vertigo or tinnitus. Cervical spine
injuries can cause 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 usual in men. (3) Further, there is evidence
of interaction between the somatosensory and auditory brainstem structures, a
pathway connecting the cervical spine to hearing function.
Researchers are seeking ways to describe the
pathway and understand better how spinal nerves like those of C2 (the second
cervical spine segment) influence auditory responses (hearing).
They have discovered projections from C2 dorsal root ganglion stretching
to the cochlear nucleus. (4) Patients who have Kimmerle’s anomaly – an
anatomical modification of the first cervical segment (C1) – often
experience 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. Back And Neck Care Center
considers this when caring for Severna Park cervical spine pain
patients who have a hearing loss or deficit.
CHIROPRACTIC HELP FOR Severna Park 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 experienced cervicogenic
sudden hearing loss reported that those who underwent
chiropractic treatment in addition to routine medical care recovered
their hearing and eased 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 having 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 conclusion of 5 months of care. An audiogram was normal, too. (7)
These are pleasing outcomes that Severna Park
hearing loss patients could accept! Back And Neck Care Center is up
for the opportunity to help!
CONSIDER Back And Neck Care Center FOR RELIEF
Listen to this PODCAST
about how Cox Technic relieves cervical spine related
neck pain and shoulder pain.
Schedule a Severna Park chiropractic visit
to see how Back And Neck Care Center may help relieve
cervical spine issues, neck pain and even possibly
cervical spine related hearing loss.
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the
DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by
Dr. James M. Cox I."