Spinal Manipulation, Chiropractic Care May Reverse Hearing Loss

Chiropractic medicine has long been considered a natural and effective way in which to treat complications involving the musculoskeletal system. For many adults, the use of spinal manipulations provides not only relief from pain associated with acute and chronic injury, but is also an effective way in which to prevent pain from developing.

For some chiropractic patients, however, there is a unique basis on which to seek chiropractic treatment. In those adults who suffer from hearing loss, there may be some therapeutic benefit to the treatment provided by a chiropractor. For those with a hearing loss on the right side, there is belief that some chiropractic treatments provide for an improvement to this hearing loss.

If you suffer from a hearing loss, especially on the right side, you may want to consider chiropractic care. Using spinal manipulation to the thoracic spine, at T6, the S-I joint, and to the cervical region, at C2-C4, you may notice an improvement in your hearing almost immediately. While this type of alternative healing is not effective for all hearing losses, there are many patients who are willing to attempt the treatment and often find some improvement is realized.

The underlying process by which it is believed that chiropractic care is effective in some adults, lies in the belief that our auditory system is considered plastic in nature. What this refers to is the ability of the auditory system to adapt and respond to particular stimuli, such as music, language and speech. When spinal manipulations are administered in the chiropractor's office, there is a change in the balance of central nervous system excitatory and inhibitory responses, thus resulting in a change to the nervous system and the auditory processing.

In addition, because adults with unilateral hearing loss, especially on the right side, suffer from vertigo, this would indicate there is a potential risk or complication associated with the vestibular and cochlear systems. When the somatic system of the body is affected by a chiropractic manipulation, it is believed there is a change that occurs to this vestibular and cochlear system, in response to somatic stimulation, which may improve vertigo and decrease the hearing loss levels.

When hearing loss occurs, there are many treatment options and tools provided to the patient. In many traditional medicine settings, and in the care of hearing loss, there is rare mention of alternative medicine options. When considering your hearing loss, if you find that your hearing loss is unilateral, with the right side more affected than the left, it may be worth your time and expense to consider a few chiropractic sessions. Even if only your vertigo is improved, this will be well worth the additional treatment.