Chiropractic has long been associated with hearing. The first Chiropractic adjustment given in 1895 was reported to have cured deafness.
This study examined the effects of a single, initial chiropractic visit on the central nervous system by documenting clinical changes of audiometry in patients after chiropractic care. The broad category of hearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic condition in older Americans, following hypertension and arthritis. Between 25% and 40% of the population aged 65 years or older is hearing impaired.
Hearing impairment refers to limitation of function or raised hearing threshold (inability to hear tones at a normal level) and this implies a total or partial loss of the ability to perceive acoustic information. The impairment may affect the full range of hearing or be limited to parts of the auditory spectrum. This impairment is expressed as decibels of hearing loss relative to the hearing of a normal population.
Clinical progress suggests that manipulation delivered to the neuromusculoskeletal system may create central plastic changes in the auditory system. Chiropractic care may benefit hearing loss and that chiropractic adjustments to various areas of the spinal column may have an effect on central auditory processing. Cases provide support indicating that, when hearing is tested immediately after a single chiropractic adjusting visit, hearing may be improved in both ears.