”What did you say?” Does this sound familiar
when chatting with your older parents or grandparents
(and occasionally your children)? Hearing loss is so
common. It is practically an
inescapable issue as we get older. Does it have to be that way?
Researchers are researching it, and Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
is following the study to incorporate into our nutrition care! Vitamin D deficiency is again considered
a culprit in this aging side-effect.
HEARING LOSS IN ADULTS
Quite a few older Sitka adults suffer
hearing loss. It is frustrating, but new research offers
some direction on how to potentially avert it. A set
of researchers indicated that older people are at
risk of hearing loss and osteoporosis. Vitamin D levels are considered
in both conditions. Bone mineral density and hearing loss have been linked. These researchers discovered
that low vitamin D levels were linked to low-frequency and
speech-frequency hearing loss as were 1-unit decreases in
femoral neck BMD and total spine BMD. (1) Another study of participants
with no apparent hearing loss – 30 low in vitamin D, 30 low in
vitamin B12, 30 controls – found that B12 and vitamin D deficiencies
were significantly linked with cochlear ear health and
function. It was suggested that patients with these vitamin
deficiencies should also be tested for cochlear
function. (2) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka proposes starting with a review
of your vitamin levels!
HEARING LOSS IN CHILDREN
In children who have vitamin
D deficiency, 53.4% had hearing loss with 17%
experiencing moderate-profound hearing loss. These children (and
children with low calcium levels) were more apt to have
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 increased risk of moderate-profound hearing loss. (3) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
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 adults or children. When this sort of hearing loss happens, steroids are a common treatment. Patients
with sufficient vitamin D levels recovered fully.
87.5% of vitamin D deficient patients
and 12.5% of insufficient vitamin D level patients did not react at all. Vitamin
D was more evident in SSNHL patients than healthy patients. (4) Vitamin
D is so important!
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr.
Michael Johnson as he describes the nutritional care of the disc and spine in The Cox® Technic
System of Spinal Pain Management.
Schedule your Sitka chiropractic
appointment today. Whether you are sick of being the one asking “Huh?” or answering “Huh?,” you and your vitamin D
levels are of consequence to us! Let us check
them out for your hearing loss risk and your risk of osteoporosis’ sake.