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Abstract
Objective: The chiropractic care of a child with upper cervical vertebral subluxation, ear pain, and hearing loss after unsuccessful allopathic treatments for recurrent chronic otitis media with effusion is described.
Clinical Features: A three year old girl had bilateral ear pain and hearing loss after three unsuccessful implantations of tympanostomy tubes and multiple medications.
Intervention and Outcome: Contact-specific, high-velocity, low-amplitude adjustments (i.e. Diversified Technique) were applied to the sites of vertebral subluxation. Cervical distraction exercises were also recommended as an adjunct to care. The patient reported an increase in hearing and the child’s mother reported the child had less ear pain, was less irritable, and had better speech after the initiation of chiropractic co-management. Medical audiology reports document speech and hearing improvements after the implementation of chiropractic care.
Conclusion: The chiropractic care of a child with chronic recurrent otitis media, effusion, bilateral hearing loss and upper cervical subluxation is presented. Marked resolution of the patient’s chief complaint was observed and confirmed by a re-evaluation with her pediatrician and audiology tests. Reduction of an upper cervical vertebral subluxation of C1 aided the restoration of hearing and normal eustachian tube physiology.
Key Words: child, otitis media, effusion, hearing loss, upper cervical subluxation, chiropractic
