”What did you say?” Does this sound typical
when chatting with your senior parents or grandparents
(and sometimes your kids)? Hearing loss is so
common. It’s practically an
inescapable issue as we get older. Does it have to be that way?
Researchers are looking at it, and Minster Chiropractic Center
is following the work to incorporate into our nutrition care! Vitamin D deficiency is again considered
a culprit in this side-effect of aging.
HEARING LOSS IN ADULTS
Quite a few older Minster adults suffer
hearing loss. It is annoying, but new research provides
some direction on how to potentially avert it. A group
of researchers pointed out that older people are at
risk of hearing loss and osteoporosis. Vitamin D levels are tested
in both conditions. Bone mineral density and hearing loss have been linked. These researchers found
that low vitamin D levels were associated to low-frequency and
speech-frequency hearing loss as were 1-unit decreases in
femoral neck BMD and total spine BMD. (1) An additional study of participants
without apparent hearing loss – 30 low in vitamin D, 30 low in
vitamin B12, 30 controls – documented that B12 and vitamin D deficiencies
were significantly associated with cochlear ear health and
function. It was suggested that patients with these vitamin
deficiencies should also be examined for cochlear
function. (2) Minster Chiropractic Center suggests starting with a look at your vitamin levels!
HEARING LOSS IN CHILDREN
In children who have vitamin
D deficiency, 53.4% experienced hearing loss with 17%
experiencing moderate-profound hearing loss. These children (as well as
children with low calcium levels) were more apt to experience
sensorineural hearing loss, a type of hearing loss that is less liable
to improve over time. Children with vitamin D deficiency as
well as a femur fracture, a significantly higher rate of hearing loss was
seen. Children with low calcium levels were also
at higher risk of moderate-profound hearing loss. (3) Minster Chiropractic Center
looks out for the kids, too. Their vitamin levels and hearing need testing,
too!
SUDDEN ONSET HEARING LOSS AND VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY
Sudden Sensory Neural Hearing Loss is another subclass
of hearing loss that needs special attention in children and
adults. When this sort of hearing loss is
encountered, steroids are a typical treatment. Patients
with sufficient vitamin D levels recovered completely.
87.5% of vitamin D deficient patients
and 12.5% of patients with insufficient
vitamin D levels did not react in any way. Vitamin
D was more obvious in SSNHL patients than healthy patients. (4) Vitamin
D is so important!
CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr.
Michael Johnson as he describes the role of nutrition
in the care of the disc and spine in The Cox® Technic
System of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your Minster chiropractic
appointment now. Whether you are sick of being the one asking “Huh?” or answering “Huh?,” you and your vitamin D
levels are important to us! Let us test
them out for your hearing loss risk and your risk of osteoporosis’ sake.