Cervical Spine Related Hearing Loss and Neck Pain Relief with Chiropractic

The timeless 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 confirm the connection of hearing and cervical spine pain issues. Aaron Chiropractic Clinic hears stories of improvement in Fort Wayne chiropractic patients for issues not always related to the issue that brought them into Aaron Chiropractic Clinic for chiropractic care. Patients are delighted! Aaron Chiropractic Clinic is excited 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 rare with cervical spine issues. The relationship 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 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) Fort Wayne chiropractic patients recount such conditions sometimes, so Aaron Chiropractic Clinic is not surprised 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 possibility 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 evidence of interaction between the somatosensory and auditory brainstem structures, a pathway joining the cervical spine to hearing function. Researchers are working to define 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 stretching to the cochlear nucleus. (4) Patients who have Kimmerle’s anomaly – an anatomical modification 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. Aaron Chiropractic Clinic considers this when caring for Fort Wayne cervical spine pain patients with a hearing loss or deficit.

CHIROPRACTIC HELP FOR Fort Wayne 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 reported that those who had 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 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 beginning of care and a 1 at the end of 5 months of care. An audiogram was normal, too. (7) These are gratifying outcomes that Fort Wayne hearing loss patients could accept! Aaron Chiropractic Clinic is ready for the opportunity to help!

CONSIDER Aaron Chiropractic Clinic FOR RELIEF

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

Schedule a Fort Wayne chiropractic appointment to experience how Aaron Chiropractic Clinic may help ease cervical spine issues, neck pain and even possibly cervical spine related hearing loss.