Cervical Spine Related Hearing Loss and Neck Pain Relief with Chiropractic
The traditional story 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 describe and corroborate the connection of hearing and cervical spine pain issues. Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation hears stories of improvement in Carrolltown chiropractic patients for issues not always related to the issue that brought them into Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation for chiropractic care. Patients are thrilled! Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation is excited for them. Let’s contemplate this side-effect of hearing loss improvement after chiropractic spinal manipulation.
THE HEARING AND CERVICAL SPINE CONNECTION
Hearing loss is not that rare with cervical spine issues. The connection of cervical spine and hearing has been discussed in the medical literature for decades. In 1994, one author submitted a discussion of the existence of a “vertebragenic hearing disorder” that accompanies 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) Carrolltown chiropractic patients recount such conditions sometimes, so Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation is not shocked 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 likelihood 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 indication of interaction between the somatosensory and auditory brainstem structures, a pathway linking 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) 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 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. Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation considers this when caring for Carrolltown cervical spine pain patients who have a hearing loss or deficit.
CHIROPRACTIC HELP FOR Carrolltown 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 recorded that those who had chiropractic treatment in addition to routine medical care bettered their hearing and alleviated their neck pain effectively after 10 days of care. (6) A case of hearing loss and tinnitus linked to 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 rated her issues 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 Carrolltown hearing loss patients could embrace! Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation is prepared for the chance to help!
CONSIDER Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation FOR RELIEF
Listen to this PODCAST about how Cox Technic alleviates cervical spine related neck pain and shoulder pain.
Schedule a Carrolltown chiropractic appointment to see how Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation may help relieve cervical spine problems, neck pain and even possibly cervical spine related hearing loss.
