Getting into a car accident won’t just make you run late, it could cause serious harm, including to your hearing. In this post, we review the types of injuries caused by car accidents that can cause hearing loss, the symptoms of hearing loss and how to seek treatment.
Types of Car Accident Injuries that Can Cause Hearing Loss
Below are some types of car accident injuries that can cause hearing loss:
Whiplash
Whiplash is a type of injury where your head and neck move forward and back violently. This can potentially damage the muscles and soft tissues in the neck, the structures within the inner ear and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), leading to hearing loss. In fact, according to one study published in the journal Otology & Neurotology, “Blunt neck trauma, like whiplash injury, may cause objectively measurable hearing impairment.”
Head Trauma
You can experience head trauma if your head hits the windshield, steering wheel or any other part of the car. Traumatic brain injuries like concussions are associated with damage to the auditory pathway between the ear and the brain, the inner ear structures, the bones within your middle ear, as well as a ruptured eardrum and disruption of blood to the cochlea, also causing hearing loss.
Airbag Deployment
Sounds that are louder than 140 dB can cause immediate, permanent damage to the auditory system. Hearing Health Matters reports, “Deployment of a driver’s side front airbag will generate mean peak sound pressure levels of approximately 160 dB. A passenger side front airbag will generate mean peak sound pressure level of 168 dB, while dual airbag deployments create a mean peak sound pressure level of 170 dB.”
Symptoms of Hearing Loss
After a car accident, pay attention to whether you experience the symptoms of hearing loss, including:
- Trouble distinguishing between voices
- Muffled hearing
- Itchiness in the ears
- Pressure or fullness in the ears
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Dizziness
How to Seek Treatment
You should immediately see a medical professional for any injuries you have, including to your ears. Audiologists are experts in the hearing system and can administer comprehensive hearing tests and prescribe treatment that will help you hear your best again.
Call Ear Specialists of Omaha & Bellevue today to learn more or schedule an appointment.
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