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Typical symptoms of occupational noise impairment that has affected the inner ear are:

• Temporary or permanent ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Needing to turn up the volume on the TV and other audio equipment
• Higher pitched sounds becoming muffled
• Trouble following conversations, especially in crowded situations
• People needing to repeat themselves to you often

Major hearing loss can also occur through direct head injuries. Auto accidents and acts of violence are the most common, but any direct blow to the head can cause either temporary or permanent hearing loss. In car accidents those safety air bags can cause both conductive and sensor neural damage.
While airbags are great for saving lives they are also often responsible for hearing damage. Damage from airbags can occur in two ways. If the side of your head is hit with a direct blow from an airbag it can ‘dislocate’ the small bones in the middle ear causing conductive deafness. The explosion of an airbag can also cause a ruptured ear drum. Airbags create a sound pressure level of over 170 decibels which is higher than a shot gun and a jet engine.

If you have been in an auto accident these are symptoms that could indicate ear damage (as can the symptoms above)

• Bleeding from the ear
• Vertigo/ dizziness
• Facial droop
• Numbness on one side
• Blurred vision
• Slurred speech
• Nausea and vomiting
• Trouble standing/ general clumsiness or any balance issues

See a doctor if you have any of these conditions and be sure to contact a personal injury lawyer if you feel someone else may be either entirely or partly responsible for your injury.

Legal Site: Texas Lawyer Kris Barber. Representing clients in the Dallas metroplex.