Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Enhanced Cochlear Coverage and Hearing Preservation in High-Frequency Hearing Loss via Electric Acoustic Stimulation with Longer Electrode
03:49

Enhanced Cochlear Coverage and Hearing Preservation in High-Frequency Hearing Loss via Electric Acoustic Stimulation with Longer Electrode

Published on: October 11, 2024

Hearing loss in divers: a 6-year prospective study.

Frederik K Goplen1, Torbjørn Aasen, Marit Grønning

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway. frederik@goplen.net

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology : Official Journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : Affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
|January 20, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Related Concept Videos

Hearing01:31

Hearing

When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Risk of acute somatic hospital admissions among seafarers: a registry-based study in Norway.

BMJ open·2025
Same author

The effect of removing hearing aids on postural sway in older adults with age-related hearing loss: an experimental study.

Frontiers in aging neuroscience·2025
Same author

Hearing, Balance, and Mortality: Sex-Specific Patterns in a Longitudinal Study.

Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery·2024
Same author

Self-Reported Measures Have a Stronger Association With Dizziness-Related Handicap Compared With Physical Tests in Persons With Persistent Dizziness.

Frontiers in neurology·2022
Same author

Prevalence and consequences of concurrent dizziness on disability and quality of life in patients with long-lasting neck pain.

Physiotherapy theory and practice·2022
Same author

Treatment of horizontal canal BPPV-a randomized sham-controlled trial comparing two therapeutic maneuvers of different speeds.

Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology·2020

Occupational noise exposure, not diving itself, is the primary cause of hearing loss in commercial divers. This 6-year study found noise significantly impacts hearing thresholds, even without diving-related injuries.

Area of Science:

  • Occupational Health
  • Audiology
  • Diving Medicine

Background:

  • Occupational diving is linked to hearing loss, but the specific causes remain debated.
  • Potential factors include diving activity, noise exposure, and acute injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the causes of permanent threshold shift in occupational divers over their first six career years.
  • To differentiate hearing loss attributed to diving versus occupational noise exposure.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 67 commercial divers was followed for 6 years.
  • Hearing was assessed using pure tone audiometry, adjusted for age.
  • Subjects underwent otologist examinations and completed questionnaires/logbooks.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Enhanced Cochlear Coverage and Hearing Preservation in High-Frequency Hearing Loss via Electric Acoustic Stimulation with Longer Electrode
03:49

Enhanced Cochlear Coverage and Hearing Preservation in High-Frequency Hearing Loss via Electric Acoustic Stimulation with Longer Electrode

Published on: October 11, 2024

  • No cases of inner ear barotrauma or decompression sickness were reported.
  • Middle ear barotrauma was frequent, and subjective hearing difficulties increased over time.
  • A significant hearing threshold shift at 4 kHz was observed (mean 2.6 dB).
  • Hearing loss correlated with occupational noise exposure, not diving frequency or middle ear barotrauma history.

Conclusions:

  • Occupational noise exposure is the main contributor to long-term hearing loss in divers.
  • Uneventful diving activities alone did not demonstrate evidence of causing long-term hearing loss.
  • Noise reduction strategies are crucial for preserving hearing in this population.