Long-term effects of diving on hearing.

[DocVikingo]

Hello, doc. Can you reference information that documents adverse ear/hearing effects on commercial divers and/or heavy repetitive diving?

Hey Squibbs,

Here's a start:

- Undersea Biomed Res. 1990 May;17(3):231-46./Hearing deterioration in professional divers: an epidemiologic study./Molvaer OI, Albrektsen G.

- Aviat Space Environ Med. 2005 Apr;76(4):366-9./Hearing thresholds among young professional divers: a 6-year longitudinal study./Skogstad M, Haldorsen T, Arnesen AR, Kjuus H.

- Undersea Hyperb Med. 2009 Jan-Feb;36(1):25-31./A twelve-year longitudinal study of hearing thresholds among professional divers./Skogstad M, Eriksen T, Skare Ø.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[squibbs]

TY Doc. very helpful !

 

[DocVikingo]

"Undersea Hyperb Med. 2014 Jan-Feb;41(1):41-7.
Does diving affect the hearing of Asian military divers? A study in the Republic of Singapore Navy.

Chng J, Chan G, Tang KC.
Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This study examined whether military diving during a National Serviceman's two-year term of service affected his hearing threshold levels.
METHODS:

A retrospective cohort study was designed to examine the hearing thresholds of divers (mean age 20.9 years) who enlisted between 2001 and 2010 (n = 748). Their pre-enlistment and pre-discharge audiograms were collected. All made dives using scuba dive sets, averaged 200 dives over two years and depths of 30 meters of sea water/msw or less.
RESULTS:

The divers' hearing levels in the left ear were not affected except for a marginal decrease in hearing level at the 2kHz level. There was a marginal decrease in hearing level in 0.5, 1 and 2 kHz in the right ear. These changes are physiologically insignificant. There were more low-frequency (0.5, 1 and 2 kHz) changes compared to high-frequency (4 and 8 kHz) changes in both ears, with a larger number of changes noted in the right ear, as compared to the left. However, no diver had a hearing threshold increase greater than 20dB or exceeded the hearing threshold levels required of military divers.
CONCLUSION:

There was no decrease of clinical significance in hearing function of the Republic of Singapore Navy national serviceman naval divers after diving for two years."

Cheers,

DocVikingo