• Dittmar C
• Mansholt B

• Child
• Hearing
• Hearing Loss
• Male
• Open Access Document
• Otitis Media
• Pediatric Chiropractic

Objective: To describes the resolution of conductive hearing loss in a young child following treatment with chiropractic adjustments.

Clinical Features: A 4-year-old boy was diagnosed with otitis media and associated conductive hearing loss following an otoscopic evaluation and audiogram of the ears by his primary-care provider. His provider recommended prescription drugs and possible surgery. The patient's parents deferred medical intervention and chose to seek chiropractic care.

Interventions and Outcomes: The patient received 10 chiropractic adjustments using the Activator instrument. The post chiropractic audiogram revealed no hearing loss and the otoscopic examination showed no fluid in the ears bilaterally.

Conclusion: This case suggests that cervical spine manipulation may have positively affected hearing loss in this patient. While there are other treatment options offered to patients, chiropractic manipulation should be considered as a possible low-force, low-risk intervention. Chiropractic manipulation as a possible treatment for otitis media and associated hearing loss has not been studied at length and warrants further exploration.

Author keywords: Conductive Hearing Loss; Otitis Media; Pediatrics; Chiropractic;

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