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Noise levels generated within the external auditory canal during microsuction aural toilet and the effect on hearing:
J D Snelling1, A Smithard, A Waddell
1Ear, Nose and Throat Department, Great Western Hospital, Swindon, UK. james.snelling@nhs.net
Objectives:
To measure the noise generated during suction aural toilet and to determine whether there is any clinically measureable effect on audiometric thresholds.
Study Design:
Prospective, controlled study with 14 patients.
Setting:
The study was conducted in an aural toilet clinic in a district general ENT department.
Participants:
Fourteen patients who attend regularly for suction aural toilet to clear cerumen.
Main Outcome Measures:
Live direct measurement of noise levels during treatment. Pre-treatment and post-treatment pure tone audiometry.
Results:
Microsuction generated a broadband sound with a peak at 2 kHz. Sound levels peaked at over 120 dB(A) in two patients. We found no evidence of any shift in audiometric thresholds following microsuction aural toilet.
Conclusions:
Microsuction is a noisy procedure that is uncomfortable for some patients. However, it does not appear to be sufficiently noisy to produce a clinically detectable threshold shift. We would suggest that it is safe but that the use of non-suction methods or a fine end may on occasion be preferable to improve patient comfort.
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