Fall is here! With cooler weather and kids back in school, ear infections tend to pop up more often. If your child has ever had one, you know how uncomfortable they can be — ear pain, trouble sleeping, fussiness, even temporary hearing changes.
Many parents ask us: “Can chiropractic care help with ear infections?” Let’s look at what’s known, including insights from Dr. Heidi Haavik’s research on how chiropractic adjustments affect the nervous system.
What Are Ear Infections?
An ear infection usually means fluid or inflammation in the middle ear, often following a cold. Kids are more prone because their eustachian tubes (the small passage that drains fluid from the ear) are shorter and more horizontal than adults’.
Signs can include:
- Tugging or pulling at the ear
- Irritability or poor sleep
- Fever or discomfort
- Trouble hearing clearly
Typical Medical Care
Doctors may recommend:
- Watch and wait: Many ear infections clear on their own.
- Pain relief: To keep kids comfortable.
- Antibiotics: Sometimes needed if the infection is bacterial or persistent.
- Ear tubes: For chronic, ongoing infections.
Where Chiropractic Fits In
Chiropractic care doesn’t treat infections the way medicine does. Instead, it focuses on supporting your child’s nervous system and overall function.
Here’s where Dr. Heidi Haavik’s research is helpful:
- Her studies show that spinal adjustments change how the brain and body communicate.
- Adjustments improve the way the nervous system processes information, which may support the body’s ability to handle stress, inflammation, and healing.
- While research hasn’t yet proven that adjustments directly “cure” ear infections, many parents notice their children sleep better, handle colds more easily, and seem healthier overall when under regular care.
Why Parents Consider Chiropractic
Some possible benefits include:
- Helping the body drain fluid more effectively by improving muscle and nerve function around the neck and jaw.
- Supporting a stronger immune response.
- Improving comfort and sleep during an illness.
- Offering a gentle, drug-free option alongside regular medical care.
Safety & Teamwork
Chiropractic care for kids is very gentle — no “cracking” like you might imagine. Techniques are adapted specifically for infants and children.
It’s also important to know:
- Chiropractic should be a complement, not a replacement, for your child’s medical care.
- If your child has a fever, drainage, or worsening symptoms, see your pediatrician right away.
- A good chiropractor will happily work alongside your family doctor to give your child the best care.
Key Takeaway for Parents
Chiropractic care won’t replace antibiotics or tubes when they’re truly needed — but it can be a safe, natural way to support your child’s body, comfort, and healing process. Dr. Haavik’s research shows chiropractic influences the brain and nervous system in positive ways, which is why so many parents choose it as part of their family’s wellness routine.
This October, if your child struggles with ear infections, consider adding chiropractic to your toolkit. It’s about helping their body function better — naturally.