Old age and exposure to loud noises may be the most common causes of hearing loss, but did you know that certain injuries can also cause you to lose your hearing? We review some of them below.
Traumatic Brain Injury
While the skull is able to protect the brain from many injuries, enough force can jostle the brain into the walls of the skull, resulting in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). If the injury is in the part of the brain responsible for hearing, or if the ears are also affected, hearing loss can result.
According to one 2018 review, “The studies with the highest level of evidence report a change in hearing of at least 10-15 dB across a range of frequencies in as many as 58% percent of TBI patients without bony fracture, which was transient or chronic.”
Blow to the Ear
Similarly, a blow to the ear can affect the structures that help you hear, leading to hearing loss.
In a 2009 study, participants included “consecutive patients who suffered physical blow to the ear resulting in tympanic membrane perforations without history of previous middle ear disease… Fifty-one patients, 31 males (61%) and 20 females (39%) aged 10-56 years, were recruited over a 30 month study period. The prevalence of hearing loss was significantly more in the injured ears than contralateral normal ears.”
Traumatic Noise
Traumatic noise levels can actually cause a physical injury to the ear as well. In fact, a shotgun blast at 140 dB can cause damage to the ears instantaneously.
In a 2003 study, “Twenty of the 166 ears (12%) had normal hearing and 137 ears (81.3%) showed an acoustic trauma-like hearing impairment. Eight ears (4.8%) had a hearing loss of at least 30 dB in the speech frequencies (500-2,000 Hz) and two ears (1.2%) had additional impairment in the higher frequencies. Only one ear (0.8%) had a conductive hearing loss.”
If You’re Experiencing Hearing Loss…
If you’re experiencing hearing loss, it’s important to schedule an appointment with an expert audiologist at Torrance Audiology right away, who can evaluate your hearing and develop an appropriate treatment plan so you can hear your best at Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Torrance Audiology today.