hearing loss

[beche de mer]

I'm told that hearing loss is an occupational hazard for scuba divers, but I'm not able to find any good quality, specific information.

I have a number of questions:

Is there a proven relationship between loss (measured in decibels) and number of logged dives?
Is the hearing loss conductive or sensorineural?
If the former, is it due to the cumulative effects of recurrent otic barotrauma, or is there some other posulated mechanism? (e.g. osteonecosis of the ossicles.)
If sensorineural, is it postulated to be noise related? And if so, where is the noise? (Diving doesn't strike me as a noisy occupation, though there is occasional noise such as when an O ring blows, or when people dry off their first-stages with air blast.)

Would appreciate any information or references.

Thanks.

 

[cudachaser]

More seriously...I have difficulty hearing where there is a lot extraneous noise...like at a bar or party with a lot people talking...Been diving about 75 dives/year for 40 years. Don't know whether the hearing impairment is a result of normal aging or diving...I seriously doubt the diving is a factor.

 

[DandyDon]

cudachaser once bubbled...
More seriously...I have difficulty hearing where there is a lot extraneous noise...like at a bar or party with a lot people talking...Been diving about 75 dives/year for 40 years. Don't know whether the hearing impairment is a result of normal aging or diving...I seriously doubt the diving is a factor.

ldguy: You reckon it's because we've both been lucky enough to get old?

don

 

[pipedope]

I don't think that there is much risk of hearing loss in normal SCUBA. The main risk would seem to be barotrauma.

For commercial divers spending many hours underwater, using loud tools and loud communications gear the risks are higher.

I think most of my hearing loss is due to working around loud shipboard equipment and the use of firearms in conditions where I did not have a chance to put in hearing protection.

 

[Saturation]

There is enough data in recreational divers to say we are at increase risk for conductive deafness.

Its a results from repeated trauma to the ED, say during equalization or recurrent ear infections or suffering a round window rupture.

I have seen a number of ear drums among instructors, and they are most scared, likely an epithelization from repeated equalizations. Over time, many have gotten themselves into situations leading to rupturing EDs. It heals, and diving goes on.

Note:

Risk <> actually occuring

... just in diving we are exposed to issues terrestrial activites are not. I wouldn't worry about it, its the 'price of doing business'. We likely will just up the treble a bit on our stereo systems most people would not notice.