“Loss of hearing after car accident. How will it be treated?”

Hearing loss from head trauma is possible. Also likely, if your airbag was deployed, you might have a noise-induced hearing loss. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) says: "Deployment of a driver side only airbag will generate mean peak sound pressure level (SPL) of approximately 160 dB, a passenger side only airbag will generate mean peak SPL of 168 dB and dual airbags create a mean peak SPL of 170 dB." The U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requires employees exposed to impulse noise of 140 dB SPL or higher to use hearing protection because a single instance of sound this loud can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss. My recommendation is to see an audiologist for a comprehensive hearing exam. Unless you have a previous hearing exam for comparison, you won't know how much--if any--damage occurred as a result of the incident. Joe Baker, MA, CCC-A Audiologist <https://hearsci.com/> 440-438-3401

You will need to have a comprehensive hearing test to determine your current hearing status. Unfortunately, if you have not had a hearing test within the past two years with which to compare, there is not way to definitively determine that the car accident CAUSED the hearing loss. Unless there is observable physical damage to the peripheral auditory system or a head injury in the temporal area. If a hearing loss is diagnosed and it is sensorineural in nature, you will be likely treated with hearing aids.      Angela R. Sieh Ceretto, M.A., CCC-A, FAAA Audiologist Pinnacle Audiology, LLC 6809 S. Minnesota Ave., Suite 101 605-306-4481  

Exposure to loud, sudden noises often causes hearing loss or damage to the eardrum. Your general physician will most likely check your ears to see if there’s any obvious visual damage. And he/she should point you to an Audiologist or Otolaryngologist (ENT) for proper treatment.

You need to make an appointment with an ENT surgeon (otolaryngologist) as soon as possible. They will perform a full audiology evaluation, to examine your hearing, and to determine which type of hearing loss you may have. There are many possible causes of hearing loss after trauma, and the treatment depends on the underlying cause. It can be as simple as blood in the ear canal causing a conductive hearing loss, or something more complicated, like acoustic trauma causing sensorineural hearing loss. It is also very helpful to know if you have a hole in the eardrum (tympanic membrane perforation), which is another cause of acute hearing loss.

Hi,

Hearing loss after trauma can be treated in multiple ways. The best initial workup is to obtain a formal hearing evaluation, performed by an audiologist, usually on the same day that you see your Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) physician. If hearing loss is present, your ENT will discuss the type of hearing loss you have and the best treatment plan. As a quick overview, hearing loss is either sensorineural (the inner ear, the nerve or the brain are at fault), conductive (the outer ear, ear canal, eardrum or the bones of hearing at fault), or both. Your hearing test should be able to determine the type of hearing you have, which then guides the treatment. Sensorineural hearing loss, for the most part, is usually permanent. Conductive hearing loss, especially after trauma, may improve after surgery, if necessary. Your ENT will discuss your treatment options.