“Huh?” Does this sound familiar
when talking with your senior parents or grandparents
(and sometimes your kids)? Hearing loss is so
common. It is almost an
inescapable issue as we get older. Does it have to be though?
Researchers are studying it, and Novelli Wellness Center
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
Many older Orchard Park, NY adults experience
hearing loss. It’s annoying, but new research gives
some direction on how to potentially prevent it. A group
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 linked. These researchers discovered
that low vitamin D levels were associated to low-frequency and
speech-frequency hearing loss as were 1-unit reductions 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 proposed that patients with these vitamin
deficiencies should also be tested for cochlear
function. (2) Novelli Wellness Center suggests starting with a look at your vitamin levels!
HEARING LOSS IN CHILDREN
In children with vitamin
D deficiency, 53.4% had 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 likely
to improve over time. Children with vitamin D deficiency and 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) Novelli Wellness 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 subset
of hearing loss that requires special attention in adults or children. When this kind of hearing loss is
encountered, steroids are a typical treatment. Patients
with adequate vitamin D levels recovered fully.
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 evident in SSNHL patients than healthy patients. (4) Vitamin
D is so important!
CONTACT Novelli Wellness Center
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 Orchard Park, NY chiropractic
appointment now. Whether you are fed up
with 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.