Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 18, 2025
06:22
Stochastic Noise Application for the Assessment of Medial Vestibular Nucleus Neuron Sensitivity In Vitro
Published on: August 28, 2019
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Sub-Clinical Effects of Chronic Noise Exposure on Vestibular System
P Viola1, A Scarpa2, D Pisani1
1Unit of Audiology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Regional Centre for Cochlear Implants and ENT Diseases, University "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro, Italy.
Translational Medicine @ Unisa
|June 12, 2020
Summary
Chronic noise exposure can cause vestibular damage, even in individuals without noticeable balance issues. This study found that noise-induced hearing loss is linked to impaired vestibular function, indicating potential vestibular lesions from acoustic trauma.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neuroscience
- Audiology
Background:
- Chronic noise exposure is a known cause of cochlear damage, leading to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
- The effects of chronic noise exposure on vestibular function in individuals without clinical vestibular symptoms are not fully understood.
- Documented cochlear damage from noise may be accompanied by subclinical vestibular dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of chronic noise exposure on vestibular function.
- To assess vestibular function in individuals with documented cochlear damage from noise but without vestibular complaints.
- To compare vestibular function between noise-exposed individuals and controls with non-noise-related hearing loss.
Main Methods:
- 25 patients with chronic NIHL (Group A) and 25 controls with sensorineural hearing loss (Group B) participated.
- Both groups underwent audiological and vestibular testing.
- Vestibular tests included caloric tests and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs).
Main Results:
- An increased evocation threshold for VEMPs was observed in noise-exposed subjects, significantly different from controls (p<0.05).
- This VEMP threshold increase was independent of auditory threshold performance.
- P1-n1 amplitude values of VEMPs showed a significant difference between the noise-exposed group and the control group.
Conclusions:
- Chronic acoustic trauma can lead to vestibular lesions alongside cochlear damage.
- Vestibular dysfunction may be present in individuals with NIHL, even without subjective vestibular symptoms.
- cVEMPs can detect subclinical vestibular alterations related to chronic noise exposure.
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