The effect of middle ear disorders on noise-induced hearing loss.
Two groups of subjects, 50 noise-exposed and 50 non-noise-exposed, both with unilateral conductive hearing loss, were studied in terms of the amount of conductive hearing loss and difference in the bone conduction thresholds at 4 kHz between the two ears. The results support the hypothesis that middle ear disorders provide the ear some protection from noise-induced hearing loss.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001844:Bone Conduction; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged