Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 1972 · 67 citations · 0 references
MedicineAudiologyOtolaryngologyHearing ScienceOtolaryngologic SurgeryOtologyCochlear DisordersEar TraumaHearing ImpairmentHearing LossMiddle Ear DisordersOtologic SurgeryBarotraumatic Tympanic Membrane InjuryCochlear SymptomsEar BarotraumaInner Ear AnatomyInner Ear TraumaMiddle Ear ExplorationMiddle Ear SurgeryTraumatic Deafness
Five patients demonstrated a sensorineural hearing defect following aural barotrauma. Preincident and postincident audiograms show the extent of impairment to vary from a high frequency loss to a total sensorineural deafness. The men involved were all Navy divers and they all experienced difficulty in clearing their ears on descent. The terminology recommended for this condition is "inner ear barotrauma," to differentiate it from other forms of barotrauma and from the involvement of the eighth nerve in decompression sickness.