An unfortunate fact: the average person starts losing hearing in his or her twenties. The loss is so gradual that most people don't notice until it affects their lives. Even when they need to use the highest volume on the television, some people don't recognize or admit that they have a hearing problem. The gradual deterioration of hearing is primarily a result of the environmental, lifestyle, and dietary choices we make during our youth. The popularity of digital audio players is certainly adding to the problem. Continued exposure to loud environ­ments, inadequate sleep and rest, overindulgence, and being overworked place an enormous amount of strain on the body. Combined with a poor diet, including increasing amounts of chemical and artificial in­gredients in our food, our bodies begin to fail as a result of toxic buildup. For example, there is a link between high blood cholesterol and loss of hearing. Genetic, physical, and other disease factors may also be involved. Some childhood illnesses, such as measles, mumps, and chronic adenoid inflammations (inflammation of the tonsils), can lead directly to hearing loss.

Chinese medicine recognizes a link between hearing loss and the underlying essence of the person. Prolonged overindulgence and being overworked during youth deplete the body's vital essence, causing deficiencies-especially of the kidney-bladder network. Depleted kidney energy can lead to a premature decline in hearing. Strong emotions such as anger and frustration can aggravate the liver energy, which rises to the head and ears, producing hearing impairment and tinnitus (ring­ing in the ears). Meniere's disease, an inner ear condition, often corresponds to a rise in liver energy. Acute loss of hearing is often associated with external pathogens such as the viruses that cause colds, flu, ear infections, and shingles.

Our treatments focus on fortifying the underlying essence, strengthening the vital energy of the kidneys, and opening blocked sensory orifices. We often use acupuncture with electrostimulation to increase neurological function and circulation within the ears, while using herbal therapy to reduce inflammation and swelling and to promote healing.