Characteristics and Prognostic Analysis in Diving-Induced Ear Trauma and Sudden Hearing Loss

/Objectives : Diving exposure can cause auditory injury involving both the middle and inner ear structures. Inner ear barotrauma (IEB) and inner ear decompression sickness (IEDCS) are the major inner ear disorders and frequently present with auditory and vestibular symptoms. This study examined how diving characteristics relate to patterns of auditory trauma....

Clinicians managing sudden hearing loss in divers should document whether the cause is inner-ear barotrauma versus decompression sickness, as these conditions have distinct prognostic profiles; however, specific practice-changing recommendations await prospective validation.

Diving-induced sudden hearing loss is an under-characterised emergency with distinct mechanisms that may require different management pathways from idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

1. 01Retrospective analysis compared inner-ear barotrauma and inner-ear decompression sickness presenting as sudden hearing loss.
2. 02Prognostic factors for hearing recovery were identified across both diving injury subtypes.
3. 03Distinguishing barotrauma from decompression sickness has direct management implications (e.g., hyperbaric oxygen eligibility).
4. 04Study population appears to be from a specialty referral centre, limiting generalisability.
5. 05Findings add to the sparse evidence base on occupational/recreational diving-related hearing disorders.

PMID

42194831

DOI

10.3390/jcm15103870.

Journal

Journal of Clinical Medicine

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

4

Population

Patients presenting with diving-induced ear trauma (inner-ear barotrauma or inner-ear decompression sickness) and sudden hearing loss

Intervention

Retrospective characterisation and prognostic analysis of diving-induced ear trauma subtypes