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, involves the hearing return of a deaf janitor after spinal manipulation. (1) So interesting! Today’s research reports help explain and confirm the connection of hearing and cervical spine pain issues. Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. hears reports of improvement in Auburn chiropractic patients for seemingly unrelated things that brought them into Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. for chiropractic care. Patients are delighted! Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. is pleased for them. Let’s reflect on 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 issues. The association of cervical spine and hearing has been presented in the medical literature for decades. 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 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) Auburn chiropractic patients recount such problems occasionally, so Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. 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 trigger 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 indication of interaction between the somatosensory and auditory brainstem structures, a pathway connecting 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) influence 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. Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. considers this when making a treatment plan for Auburn cervical spine pain patients with a hearing loss or deficit.
CHIROPRACTIC HELP FOR Auburn HEARING LOSS RELATED TO CERVICAL SPINE ISSUES
Since that first chiropractic adjustment in 1895, chiropractic has recorded improvement for more patients with hearing issues. A study of 90 patients who experienced 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 issues 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 Auburn hearing loss patients could embrace! Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. is up for the chance to help!
CONSIDER Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. FOR RELIEF
Listen to this PODCAST about how Cox Technic alleviates cervical spine related neck pain and shoulder pain.
Schedule a Auburn chiropractic visit to explore how Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. may help ease cervical spine problems, neck pain and even potentially cervical spine related hearing loss.
