Auditory Complaints in Scuba Divers: an Overview

Evens, Rachel A.; Bardsley, Barry; Manchaiah, Vinaya

doi:10.1007/s12070-011-0315-6

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Reviews of diving-related hearing loss suggest that longterm changes are not clinically significant, and that, after correcting for age, any deterioration is likely due to noise exposure or trauma. 6,7 However, results of individual studies are variable, with some studies reporting significant hearing loss and a correlation with diving experience, and others reporting no such loss or correlation. For example, it was found that at most frequencies, divers had poorer hearing than age-matched otologically normal subjects at both the initial and final examination six years later.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of diving on hearing: a 10–25 year audit of New Zealand professional divers

et al. 2019

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Surveillance of professional divers' hearing is routinely undertaken on an annual basis despite lack of evidence of benefit to the diver. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude and significance of changes in auditory function over a 10−25 year period of occupational diving with the intention of informing future health surveillance policy for professional divers. Methods: All divers with adequate audiological records spanning at least 10 years were identified from the New Zealand occupational diver database. Changes in auditory function over time were compared with internationally accepted normative values. Any significant changes were tested for correlation with diving exposure, smoking history and body mass index. Results: The audiological records of 227 professional divers were analysed for periods ranging from 10 to 25 years. Initial hearing was poorer than population norms, and deterioration over the observation period was less than that predicted by normative data. Changes in hearing were not related to diving exposure, or smoking history. Conclusion: Audiological changes over 10 to 25 years of occupational diving were not found to be significantly different from age-related changes. Routine annual audiological testing of professional divers does not appear to be justifiable.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of diving on hearing: a 10–25 year audit of New Zealand professional divers

et al. 2019

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“…In two of them, sensorineural hearing loss had an overall prevalence among 71% and 80% of divers [2122]. In contrast, no increased prevalence of hearing loss was seen among sport divers and recreational SCUBA divers [1314].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, noise-induced hearing loss due to motor noise has been described mainly among Scuba divers [101112]. Overall, only a few studies have investigated the association between diving and hearing loss, and the results have been inconclusive [1011121314]. None of the studies were carried out among artisanal shellfish divers using Hookah technique.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hearing Loss in Chilean Shellfish Divers

Garrido¹,

Hindelang²,

Carvalho

et al. 2018

Annals of Global Health

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Background:Diving within artisanal fishing is a profession carried out by many men in coastal communities of southern Chile. These shellfish divers use surface supplied air for breathing. Among potential health threats are occupational accidents, decompression sickness and barotrauma. Repeated middle and inner ear barotrauma and decompression sickness of the ear may result in hearing loss.Objective:To determine the prevalence of hearing loss and related risk factors in artisanal shellfish divers.Methods:A cross–sectional study including 125 male shellfish divers was carried out in a coastal village in southern Chile. Participants were interviewed using a standard Spanish questionnaire adapted for this population. Hearing loss was assessed through audiometry. Any hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss and other types of hearing loss (conduction, unilateral and mixed) were used as the outcomes. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression models were carried out to identify risk factors for hearing loss.Findings:Median duration on the job was 25 years (range 1–52), 64% of divers had a low level of schooling and 52% reported not knowing how to use decompression tables. Most (86%) of the divers dove deeper than 30 meters exceeding the 20 meters permitted by law. The majority (80%) reported having experienced several episodes of type II decompression sickness during their working life. The prevalence of any type of hearing loss was 54.4%: 29.0% presented sensorineural hearing loss and 25.6% presented other types of hearing impairment. After adjustment for age and other potential risk factors, diving more than 25 years was the main predictor for all kinds of hearing loss under study.Conclusions:Hearing loss is frequent in artisanal shellfish divers and safety measures are limited. Although based on small numbers and lacking an unexposed comparison group, our results suggest the need for community-based interventions.

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“…Various research studies have reported the condition of the middle ear in a short period following diving [15][16][17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Evens et al [15] described numerous problems concerning the external, middle and internal ear among divers, such as otitis externa, osteoma of external auditory canal, barotrauma of the middle ear, and compressed air sickness. In the study by Özyurt [16], the dysfunctions of the middle ear were found much more frequently among beginners than among experienced divers [16], whereas Green et al [17] presented a short-term influence of diving on the ears.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of regular diving on the condition of the middle ear

Stieler¹,

Loba²,

Gawęcki³

et al. 2021

Int J Occup Med Environ Health

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It is generally held that exposure to both high-pressure and long-lasting contact with water makes diving a potentially hazardous sports activity as far as the ears are concerned. There is a number of research investigating the condition of the middle ear in a short period following diving; however, the knowledge regarding the long-term effects of regularly repeated diving remains limited. Material and Methods: The aim of this study is to evaluate the function of the middle ear after a diving season in a group of 31 adults diving regularly (1-17 years) by means of the following methods: 1) interview, 2) otoscopy, 3) pure tone audiometry, 4) classic tympanometry, and 5) wideband tympanometry. Results: Periodic problems with pressure equalization in the middle ear were observed in 12 individuals (38.7%). In all the analyzed cases, the authors found a normal condition of the external auditory canal and the tympanic membrane in otoscopy, normal hearing in pure tone audiometry, curve type A, and normal gradient in both classic and wideband tympanometry. Conclusions: Safe diving (according to safety precautions) does not have any long-term negative effects on the condition of the middle ear. However, these observations should be verified in a larger group of divers. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2021;34(6)

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Auditory Complaints in Scuba Divers: an Overview

Cited by 9 publications

References 31 publications

The impact of diving on hearing: a 10–25 year audit of New Zealand professional divers

The impact of diving on hearing: a 10–25 year audit of New Zealand professional divers

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hearing Loss in Chilean Shellfish Divers

The impact of regular diving on the condition of the middle ear

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