”What did you say?” Does this sound familiar
when talking with your older parents or grandparents
(and sometimes your children)? Hearing loss is so
common. It’s almost an
inescapable issue as we get older. Does it have to be that way?
Researchers are studying it, and Spine & Sports Rehab Center
is following the study to incorporate into our nutrition care! Vitamin D deficiency is again deemed
a culprit in this aging side-effect.
HEARING LOSS IN ADULTS
Many older Baton Rouge adults experience
hearing loss. It’s annoying, but new research provides
some direction on how to possibly prevent it. A set
of researchers indicated that older folks are at
risk of hearing loss and osteoporosis. Vitamin D levels are considered
in both conditions. Bone mineral density and hearing loss have been associated
in the research. These researchers revealed
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
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 associated with cochlear ear health and
function. It was proposed that patients with these vitamin
deficiencies should also be tested for cochlear
function. (2) Spine & Sports Rehab Center suggests starting with a test of your vitamin levels!
HEARING LOSS IN CHILDREN
In children with 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 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
noted. Children with low calcium levels were also
at increased risk of moderate-profound hearing loss. (3) Spine & Sports Rehab Center
looks out for the kids, too. Their vitamin levels and hearing need checking,
too!
SUDDEN ONSET HEARING LOSS AND VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY
Sudden Sensory Neural Hearing Loss is another subclass
of hearing loss that requires special attention in children and
adults. When this type 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 Spine & Sports Rehab 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 Baton Rouge 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 check
them out for your hearing loss risk and your risk of osteoporosis’ sake.