St Peters Hearing Loss May Be Related to Vitamin D Loss
”What did you say?” Does this sound familiar when chatting with your senior parents or grandparents (and sometimes your kids)? Hearing loss is so common. It’s almost an inescapable issue as we age. Does it have to be that way? Researchers are studying it, and Old Mill Chiropractic is following the study to incorporate into our nutrition care! Vitamin D deficiency is again considered a culprit in this side-effect of aging.
HEARING LOSS IN ADULTS
Many older St Peters adults suffer hearing loss. It’s frustrating, but new research provides some direction on how to possibly prevent it. A group of researchers indicated that older folks are at risk of hearing loss and osteoporosis. Vitamin D levels are tested in both conditions. Bone mineral density and hearing loss have been associated in the research. These researchers revealed 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) An additional 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 recommended that patients with these vitamin deficiencies should also be checked for cochlear function. (2) Old Mill Chiropractic proposes starting with a test of 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 likely to have sensorineural hearing loss, a type of hearing loss that is less liable to get better over time. Children with vitamin D deficiency as well as a femur fracture, a significantly higher rate of hearing loss was noted. Children with low calcium levels were also at higher risk of moderate-profound hearing loss. (3) Old Mill Chiropractic looks out for the kids, too. Their vitamin levels and hearing need evaluating, too!
SUDDEN ONSET HEARING LOSS AND VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY
Sudden Sensory Neural Hearing Loss is another type of hearing loss that needs special attention in adults or children. When this kind of hearing loss happens, steroids are a typical treatment. Patients with adequate vitamin D levels recovered completely. 87.5% of vitamin D deficient patients and 12.5% of insufficient vitamin D level patients did not respond at all. Vitamin D was more evident in SSNHL patients than healthy patients. (4) Vitamin D is so important!
CONTACT Old Mill Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates the role of nutrition in the care of the disc and spine in The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your St Peters chiropractic appointment soon. Whether you are tired 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.
