Acute acoustic trauma. An emergency condition

This paper reviews 16 selected patients reporting for acute acoustic trauma (AAT). All patients had a fairly recent pre-accident audiogram. Most of the patients were tested audiologically immediately after the acoustic accident. All patients were men, with ages varying between 16 and 50 years. Eight patients received pharmacological treatment with low-molecular-dextran intravenously, papaverin perorally and prednisolone perorally. The high-frequency pure-tone average (3-4-6 kHz) was more affected than the pure-tone average (0.5-1-2 kHz). In 2 patients, the converse was true. The most affected frequencies were 3, 4, and 6 kHz. The initial maximum hearing loss varied between 15 and 70 dB. In 6 patients, extra-high-frequency audiometry (8-20 kHz) was performed and in all patients an asymmetry was demonstrated. Younger patients had somewhat more hearing improvement after AAT than older patients. It also appears that patients reporting early had a somewhat better healing course than patients reporting later.