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Acoustic trauma

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• Symptoms
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Definition:

Acoustic trauma is injury to the hearing mechanisms within the inner ear, caused by excessively loud noise.

Alternative Names:

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

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 result from an explosion near the ear, gunshots, or long exposure to loud noises (such as loud music or loud machinery).

• Review Date: 10/20/2006
• Reviewed By: Alden J. Pearl, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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