Report of an isolated mid-frequency hearing loss following inner ear barotrauma.
A case describing an isolated mid-frequency hearing loss as a result of inner ear barotrauma is presented. The onset of symptoms was insidious but progressed to a profound total-range hearing loss in the right ear. This loss resolved rapidly with cessation of diving activity, bed rest, and head elevation, leaving only an isolated 20-dB hearing decrement at 1000 Hz. Since the diver was participating in evaluation of experimental decompression tables, differentiation had to be made between barotrauma and inner ear decompression sickness.
D000328:Adult; D001469:Barotrauma; D004242:Diving; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000293:injuries*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male