Ears are sensitive to pressure and are often damaged when military or civilians are exposed to a blast.
(PRWEB UK) 5 July 2013
Researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine have released the results of a new study which means there could be a treatment for people experiencing sudden hearing loss in the aftermath of explosions and roadside bombings according to research published July 1 in science journal PLOS One entitled ‘Mechanisms of Hearing Loss after Blast Injury to the Ear’.
Ears are sensitive to pressure and are often damaged when military or civilians are exposed to a blast. A statement from Stanford said that over 60 percent of service personnel wounded in action have eardrum injuries, tinnitus, hearing loss, or a combination of those conditions that impact hearing.
Researchers explore why the loud blasts of noise caused hearing loss and found that it was caused by both hair cell loss and auditory never cell loss. However, the Stanford team said that the cochlea was not destroyed and that previous studies may have destroyed the cochlea with their research techniques. Meaning that there is a hope in the future that medicines could be developed to prevent long term hearing loss.
A spokesperson from Hidden Hearing:
“IEDs can create noise levels of 170 decibels which can be hugely damaging to the ear. For soldiers and civilians this can be detrimental to their hearing and cause long term hearing loss. With news that it could be treatable one day, there is hope for those affected. Meanwhile, those with sudden hearing loss may be able to benefit from a hearing aid.”
With more than 40 years’ experience in treating hearing loss, Hidden Hearing is entrusted with the care of more than 100,000 people each year. The firm has 84 hearing centres across the UK, all catering for a range of needs and budgets. Specialising in hearing tests and hearing aids, the company also offer a variety of hearing aid accessories and in 2005, became the first dedicated hearing retailer to be recognised as an Investor in People.