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, details the hearing restoration of a deaf janitor after spinal manipulation. (1) So interesting! Today’s research reports help clarify and corroborate the connection of hearing and cervical spine pain issues. The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR hears stories of improvement in Colorado Springs chiropractic patients for issues not always related to the issue that brought them into The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR for chiropractic care. Patients are elated! The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR is ecstatic for them. Let us consider 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 problems. The association of cervical spine and hearing has been presented in the medical literature for decades. In 1994, one author presented 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) Colorado Springs chiropractic patients recount such problems on occasion, so The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR 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 produce 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) Additionally, there is indication of interaction between the somatosensory and auditory brainstem structures, a pathway joining the cervical spine to hearing function. Researchers are seeking ways 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 suffer with chronic tension-type headaches and neurosensory-type hearing loss. (5) What does this say about the connection between hearing and the cervical spine? A connection. The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR considers this when caring for Colorado Springs cervical spine pain patients with a hearing loss or deficit.

CHIROPRACTIC HELP FOR Colorado Springs 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 had cervicogenic sudden hearing loss recorded 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 linked to 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 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 Colorado Springs hearing loss patients could embrace! The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR is prepared for the opportunity to help!

CONSIDER The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR FOR RELIEF

Listen to this PODCAST about how Cox Technic relieves cervical spine related neck pain and shoulder pain.

Schedule a Colorado Springs chiropractic visit to see how The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR may help relieve cervical spine problems, neck pain and even potentially cervical spine related hearing loss.