“Huh?” Does this sound familiar
when chatting with your senior parents or grandparents
(and sometimes your kids)? Hearing loss is so
common. It is almost an
inescapable issue as we get older. Does it have to be that way?
Researchers are studying it, and Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation
is following the study to incorporate into our nutrition care! Vitamin D deficiency is again considered
a culprit in this aging side-effect.
HEARING LOSS IN ADULTS
Quite a few older Carrolltown adults experience
hearing loss. It is frustrating, but new research offers
some direction on how to potentially prevent it. A set
of researchers pointed out that older folks are at
risk of hearing loss and osteoporosis. Vitamin D levels are considered
in both conditions. Bone mineral density and hearing loss have been linked. These researchers discovered
that low vitamin D levels were linked to low-frequency and
speech-frequency hearing loss as were 1-unit decreases in
femoral neck BMD and total spine BMD. (1) Another study of participants
without apparent hearing loss – 30 low in vitamin D, 30 low in
vitamin B12, 30 controls – documented that B12 and vitamin D deficiencies
were significantly associated with cochlear ear health and
function. It was proposed that patients with these vitamin
deficiencies should also be examined for cochlear
function. (2) Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation suggests starting with a look at your vitamin levels!
HEARING LOSS IN CHILDREN
In children with 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 likely to experience
sensorineural hearing loss, a type of hearing loss that is less likely
to improve over time. Children with vitamin D deficiency and a femur fracture, a significantly higher rate of hearing loss was
noted. Children with low calcium levels were also
at increased risk of moderate-profound hearing loss. (3) Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation
looks out for the kids, too. Their vitamin levels and hearing need evaluating,
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 children and
adults. When this sort of hearing loss occurs, steroids are a common treatment. Patients
with sufficient 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 react in any way. Vitamin
D was more obvious in SSNHL patients than healthy patients. (4) Vitamin
D is so important!
CONTACT Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr.
Michael Johnson as he illustrates the role of nutrition
in the care of the disc and spine in The Cox® Technic
System of Spinal Pain Management.
Schedule your Carrolltown chiropractic
appointment soon. 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 us check
them out for your hearing loss risk and your risk of osteoporosis’ sake.