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, details the hearing restoration of a deaf janitor after spinal manipulation. (1) Fascinating! Today’s research reports help clarify and confirm the connection of hearing and cervical spine pain issues. Vancouver Disc Centers hears stories of improvement in Vancouver chiropractic patients for issues not always related to the issue that brought them into Vancouver Disc Centers for chiropractic care. Patients are delighted! Vancouver Disc Centers is excited for them. Let us consider this side-effect of hearing loss recovery after chiropractic spinal manipulation.

THE HEARING AND CERVICAL SPINE CONNECTION

Hearing loss is not that unusual with cervical spine problems. The connection of cervical spine and hearing has been discussed in the medical literature for years and years. In 1994, one author presented 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) Vancouver chiropractic patients recount such problems occasionally, so Vancouver Disc Centers is not surprised at all.

Cervical spine issues can affect ear vessels and/or nerves bringing about 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) Further, there is evidence of interaction between the somatosensory and auditory brainstem structures, a pathway linking 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) 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 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. Vancouver Disc Centers considers this when caring for Vancouver cervical spine pain patients with a hearing loss or deficit.

CHIROPRACTIC HELP FOR Vancouver HEARING LOSS RELATED TO CERVICAL SPINE ISSUES

Since that first chiropractic adjustment in 1895, chiropractic has documented improvement for more cases of 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 recovered 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 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 satisfying outcomes that Vancouver hearing loss patients could embrace! Vancouver Disc Centers is ready for the chance to help!

CONSIDER Vancouver Disc Centers FOR RELIEF

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

Schedule a Vancouver chiropractic appointment to explore how Vancouver Disc Centers may help improve cervical spine issues, neck pain and even possibly cervical spine related hearing loss.