Acoustic ear trauma is a common damage to the human hearing aid, resulting from prolonged or short-term exposure to strong sounds. According to the classification of ICD-10, this disease belongs to the subsection: "Noise of the inner ear"( H83.3), which includes the very trauma and hearing loss caused by noise.
Acoustic ear trauma
The effect of the loud noise of steel on the hearing aid began to be noticed back in the century before last when powerful engines appeared. Over time, scientists have identified two forms of the disease:
- Chronic, or in a different professional, arises with a constant impact of sound above 70 dB in conjunction with vibration. Such waves provoke the development of irreversible processes in the labyrinth, which is virtually impossible to stop.
- Acute is accompanied by a sharp hemorrhage and is able to change cells in a labyrinth. With a single exposure to loud sound, pain can occur, and even mechanical damage.
Explosive injury may result from explosions of mines or other projectiles. It is characterized by the occurrence inside the ear pressure, which leads to rupture of the tympanic membrane. With this effect, a person begins to lose space and may lose consciousness.
Reasons for
The main cause of this type of hearing injury is the work associated with the constant impact of very strong noise. It occurs due to prolonged exposure to sounds of 1000-6000 GHz. Mechanical damage to the membrane and membranes can occur in people:
- working with noisy equipment;
- living in places where loud noises are heard regularly;
- on the shooting ranges;
- neglected protection, for example, do not use earplugs.
Noise sources table
Symptoms and diagnostic methods
The main symptom of an acoustic trauma is complete or partial hearing loss. When getting an acute injury, there is a sharp pain, with the appearance of hearing loss. It can appear both from one and from both sides.
In such a state, the patient does not hear the surrounding sounds. Dizziness may occur. When carrying out an endoscopy, one can examine the ruptures in the tympanic membrane.
Hearing loss may develop further. At the first signs or suspicions of an injury, you should immediately contact a medical institution.
To diagnose an acoustic trauma, the doctor will conduct a survey to determine the effect of any noise on the patient. Also, special equipment is used to conduct audiometry.
When exposed to the ear, sounds of varying loudness and frequency determine which of them the patient hears and which ones do not. This method of diagnosis can determine the severity and neglect of the disease.
Treatment of
Treatment of acute acoustic trauma may not be necessary. After a brief exposure to strong sound, almost all the symptoms that appear can be reversible. What can not be said about chronic trauma. It requires compulsory treatment.
Medication
The first signs of chronic acoustic trauma are a signal for urgent treatment in a medical institution. First of all, the doctor recommends eliminating the cause of the disease.
That is, a person needs to change his profession. If this is not done, the disease will only progress and stop the changes will not happen.
With drug therapy, calcium and bromine drugs are used to help get rid of tinnitus. In addition, the doctor will prescribe sedative and restorative drugs, nootropic drugs, as well as vitamin therapy.
In addition, drugs that improve microcirculation can be prescribed. Probably, steroid preparations will be appointed.
Often, patients' reviews of such treatment may be negative. If treatment of the disease begins too late, it is impossible to restore hearing loss, since degenerative changes of the nerve endings of the hearing aid have already occurred.
Therefore, in the treatment of the most important point is the early diagnosis.
Folk remedies
Treatment of acoustic trauma by folk remedies boils down to additional measures that improve blood circulation and remove an unpleasant sound background. It can be coniferous and hydrogen sulphide baths.
You can also use folk sedatives. It can be lemon balm, currant leaves or lilac. Tea from such herbs has a soothing and relaxing effect. With noise in the ears, a dandelion from it can help prepare syrup and take 3 times a day.
If the medication is ineffective, the doctor will recommend technological assistance. This can be a specially selected hearing aid or a cochlear implant.
Tips and tricks to help keep your hearing safe for a long time:
Consequences of
The consequences after an acoustic trauma may be different depending on the degree of injury. With a light form, the hearing quickly returns to the initial level of the base of additional treatment.
Prevention
Prophylaxis of chronic acoustic trauma is to reduce the effect of strong noises on the damaged inner ear. For this purpose it is recommended to use all possibilities for production of soundproofing of walls and ceilings in factories.
In addition, a person should use physical measures of protection: wear headphones, earplugs.
Before getting a job, where the noise background is constantly raised, it is necessary to pass an ear fatigue test.
If during normal diagnosis a normal hearing is restored very slowly, then the person is considered highly susceptible to loud sounds and he should not work in such production.