New Research Sheds Light on Hearing Loss & Chiropractic

Recent research reporting on improvement in a young girl with hearing loss undergoing chiropractic care reveals that chiropractic may play an important role in managing children with hearing problems. The research, reported in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic, includes a review of the literature supporting the role of chiropractic in children suffering from hearing loss and calls for more research in this area. “Numerous case studies and some clinical studies are revealing that there is a relationship between structural shifts in the spine, the nervous system and the various problems related to hearing loss” stated Dr. Matthew McCoy, a chiropractor, public health researcher and editor of the journal that published the study. “These types of structural problems in the neck obstruct the nervous system and by removing the obstruction chiropractic helps improve nerve supply.”

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With everything we know about the spine and nervous system, chiropractic intervention makes perfect sense in the case of a child who has hearing challenges. 

“In fact, chiropractic is the management of choice for dealing with the structural and neurological aspects of the types of problems stemming from ear infections” remarked McCoy, adding “This child was experiencing significant disruption in quality of life as a result of her hearing loss. It wasn’t until the chiropractic intervention that the child improved immediately.”  

The 9-year-old girl reported on in the study had bronchitis, upper back pain, headaches, and hearing loss.  She had experienced sharp upper back pain for several days and was diagnosed with bronchitis.  She had also been diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss, in which she had to begin wearing a hearing aid.

The chiropractor examined her and found structural shifts in her neck, upper back, and low back.  Restrictions and tender areas were also noted throughout all her spinal muscles.  X-rays confirmed the structural shifts.  These structural shifts can lead to obstruction of the nerves and it is this obstruction, called vertebral subluxations, that chiropractors correct. 

Following chiropractic care, she experienced immediate relief as her hearing was restored.  She did not need to use her hearing aid the next day in school and she also began to be able to hear whispers from her mother. 

The study’s author called for additional research to investigate the clinical implications of chiropractic in this population.