At some point you have probably experienced ringing in your ears after loud music. Usually it goes away over a short period of time but it can be persistent especially if you have had a head injury. According to the American Tinnitus association 1 of 5 people struggle with the condition.1
What it is:
When something interferes with the hearing process you can experience tinnitus. The way we hear sound is:
- Noise travels through the ear.
- Vibrations against the ear drum and three small bones in the ear (ossicles).
- This then moves fluid inside the ear and is interpreted by the brain.2
The process is one of the most incredibly complex and intricate things to happen in the body. Tinnitus is a broad term for a condition that is usually indicative of some other process taking place in the body. This could be caused by anything from ear wax to a tumor.
Research has given a look into a possible solution in the upper neck. A team of researchers using Doppler Ultrasound to measure blood flow between both ears found a link in patients with Tinnitus. Here is what they discovered:
- The blood supply to the ears is from the vertebral arteries which pass through the bones in the neck.
- The study theorizes that when misalignments happen in the upper neck (C1/Atlas and C2/Axis vertebra) blood flow between the ears is affected.
- When there is a significant difference in blood flow speeds between the left and right ears potentially causing tinnitus.3
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What to do:
Treatment options for tinnitus are broad from pharmaceuticals to hearing aids with mixed results. Upper Cervical Chiropractors who specialize in the upper neck consisting of the C1 and C2/Atlas and Axis bones have had documented success in tinnitus patients.4 The first chiropractic patient in 1895 was a deaf janitor who began to hear after receiving the first chiropractic adjustment.
The alignment of the upper neck is important not only to blood flow but also nervous system function and overall health. Upper cervical chiropractors use specialized tests and x-rays to determine the type of misalignment, the correction formula to use and exactly when an upper cervical correction is needed.
References:
1. http://www.entnet.org/content/tinnitus
2. Koyuncu M, Celik O, Luleci C, Inan E, Ozrurk A. Doppler sonography of vertebral arteries in patients with tinnitus. Auris Nasus Larynx. 1995;22(l):24-8. 223.
3. Kessinger RC, Boneva DV. Vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss in the geriatric patient. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2000;23:352–62.
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Dr. Craig Lapenski and Dr. Martha Schenk of Advanced Spinal Care, in Graham, Washington are your Graham NUCCA Specialists trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). Their upper cervical clinic also serves Puyallup, Tacoma, Olympia, and Sumner. They are uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, fibromyalgia, vertigo, neck and back pain, and more. More information can be found on our website at https://www.nuccawashington.com/