[Acute hearing loss from scuba-diving holidays: diagnosis and treatment of barotrauma of the inner ear]

HNO. 2009 Mar;57(3):262-5. doi: 10.1007/s00106-008-1787-x.
[Article in German]

Abstract

A 35-year-old diver noticed hearing loss and tinnitus after his diving holiday. He presented to the Lübeck clinical practice for divers, and we found vascular injections on the eardrum. Audiometry showed a high-degree hearing loss of 40-60 dB. Under the assumption of a perilymphatic fistula, we performed a tympanoscopy with covering of the oval and round windows. Bone-conduction hearing improved immediately postoperatively to 25 dB. A postoperative rheological infusion treatment was given. After 6 months the diver was assessed fit to dive with almost normal inner ear function.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Barotrauma / diagnosis
  • Barotrauma / etiology*
  • Barotrauma / surgery*
  • Diving / adverse effects*
  • Diving / injuries*
  • Hearing Loss / diagnosis
  • Hearing Loss / etiology*
  • Hearing Loss / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Ear Ventilation*
  • Therapeutics
  • Tinnitus / diagnosis
  • Tinnitus / etiology
  • Tinnitus / surgery