A reader asks about a possible correlation between
their osteoporosis condition and advancing hearing
impairment. It’s Your Hearing Health
by
Max S. Chartrand, M.A.,
DigiCare Hearing Research & Rehabiliation
Q: Someone suggested that it is entirely possible
that my osteoporosis condition can be contributing
to my advancing hearing loss. Please, explain. ---
Mrs. J.W.
Dear Mrs. J.W.: Many patients are not aware that the
body is a whole organism, not a collection of
unrelated mechanisms. Health factors that cause
deterioration of one part of the body can and will
do the same elsewhere.
In my experience I’ve found that the ear is
reflection of the body’s overall health. There are
very few underlying conditions in the body that we
cannot observe or identify through assessment of the
ear.
For example, if you suffer from osteoarthritis (1-2%
bone loss per annum) or osteoporosis (3-5% bone
loss) you will also develop tympanosclerosis
(thickening and calcification of the eardrum) and/or
otosclerosis (spongy deterioration of the middle ear
bones and cochlear labyrinth).
Most sufferers of these conditions appear to have
either a calcium absorption problem or a calcium
deficiency. The first is usually affected by a pH
(acid-alkaline) imbalance in the body, as found in
gout, diabetes, chronic hypoglycemia, etc. The
second condition is generally a simple matter of
your body not receiving enough (of an absorbable
form) of calcium.
Drinking all the milk in the world will not overcome
an absorption problem, but will result in calcium
deposits where you don’t want them (on eardrums, at
joints of long bones, spine, the lining of the inner
ear, and kidney stones). There are some forms of
calcium, however, that overcome most absorption
problems, such as chelated calcium citrate (with
vitamin D).
A simple deficiency can usually be helped by adding
more calcium (with proportionate vitamin D) to the
diet. Our bodies can only absorb only so much
calcium, so that the higher the quality of the
source the less one actually needs to take. One of
my chief concerns today is that so many are being
advised to take much larger amounts than their body
can use, leaving the body rife with free calcium. It
is my opinion that 600 mg. of actual asorption is
about all that can be utilized when added on top of
a proper diet.
But beware, popular antacids can be your worst form
of calcium. Besides containing no vitamin D, which
is necessary for proper absorption, most are
processed with aluminum chlorohydroxide, making
systemic absorption very poor. Often deposits and
stones develop over time.
Also, there may be a connection between too much
thyroid production, as can happen from taking too
much medication for hypothyroidism and your
production of calcitonin, which takes excess calcium
out of the blood system and deposits it elsewhere.
If the bones already have plenty of calcium to meet
its normal depletion cycle, then excess calcitonin
will only worsen the problems described above.
For that reason, we need to be aware that there are
important balances in the body when taking
medications, vitamins, and minerals, etc. As a
result it always best to consult with a health
professional trained in the interaction between
medications and nutritional supplements.
The foregoing should not be construed as medical
advice, but is for public education purposes only.
Questions may be sent to: Aural Rehab Concepts, P.O.
Box 706, Rye, CO 81069, or by faxing to (719)
489-2054. Due to space limitations, questions may be
edited. For educational purposes only. Not to be
considered medical opinion or advice.
Column #17
It’s Your Hearing
Health
by
Max S. Chartrand, M.A.,
DigiCare Hearing Research & Rehabiliation
Q: I read somewhere about the relationship between
depression and hearing loss. I am a male, 69 years
old and until recently have never had a problem with
depression. But I am now on two kinds of
antidepressants that I’d really like to get off of.
Could it be that I have a hearing loss and don’t
know it? --- Mr. G. B.
Dear Mr. G.B.: Without seeing your hearing test data
I can only speak in generalities. But I think your
question is important to a lot of our writers.
The fact that you are a 69 year-old male tells me
that there is more than a 75% chance that you have a
high frequency sensorineural hearing loss. In most
such cases, the loss creeps up so slowly over many
years that very few sufferers are even aware that
they have a hearing loss.
And yes, there is a strong correlation between
uncorrected hearing loss and depression. In fact,
the cause-effect is so strong that it has been
reported that psychotropic medication is used almost
400% more among those with (uncorrected) hearing
loss than in the normal hearing population. In fact,
medication and medical overuse tends to be extremely
high in this group according to one recent VA study.
The challenge in self-assessing one’s own high
frequency loss where the low frequencies are normal
or near normal is that it is almost impossible to
determine without a professional evaluation. Even
those around them would tend to think the problem is
an attentional or cognitive disorder.
That is why it is so imperative for all older adults
to have their hearing checked at least once per
year.
In our own practice we’ve seen dramatic changes in a
person’s cognitive and physical health, as well
improvements in personal and occupational
relationships.
So, the short answer to your question is this: Come
on in and let us find out if your problem really
isn’t really an uncorrected hearing loss needing
attention. You have nothing to lose, and possibly
much to gain.
Questions may be sent to: Aural Rehab Concepts, P.O.
Box 706, Rye, CO 81069, or by faxing to (719)
489-2054. Due to space limitations, questions may be
edited. |
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