Noise-induced hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction.
In a group of 29 technicians of the maintenance department of Royal Dutch Airlines, all with an industrial type of hearing loss, the vestibular function was examined. From these 29 persons, 18 showed a spontaneous nystagmus and 24 had a positional nystagmus exceeding a velocity of 5 degrees/s in three or more positions. A cervical nystagmus could be provoked in 17 subjects. In 7 persons, the rotational test proved a nystagmus preponderance of more than 20%. A difference in excitability between the labyrinths of more than 20% appeared in 7 cases. The tests for central vestibular disorders did not show pathology in any of the subjects. According to their hearing loss, the subjects were divided into four groups. There was no correlation between the grade of hearing loss and the vestibular function disturbance. An explanation can be sought in the adaptation capability of the vestibular system. All technicians showed pathology in one or more of the vestibular tests. This means that noise exposure not only damages the cochlea, but threatens the vestibular organs too.
D000328:Adult; D001359:Aviation; D005133:Eye Movements; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology*