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Acoustic trauma - Overview

Alternative Names

Injury - inner ear; Trauma - inner ear; Ear injury

Definition of Acoustic trauma:

Acoustic trauma is injury to the hearing mechanisms in the inner ear due to very loud noise.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Acoustic trauma is a common cause of sensory hearing loss. Damage to the hearing mechanisms within the inner ear may be caused by:

An explosion near the ear
Gunshots
Long-term exposure to loud noises (such as loud music or machinery)

Sound wave transmission

Reviewed last on: 10/10/2008
Alan Lipkin, MD, Otolaryngologist, Private Practice, Denver, Colorado. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Hearing loss

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Acoustic trauma - Overview

Alternative Names

Definition of Acoustic trauma:

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

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