The effect of loud noise on the vestibular system.

The effect of a 2 sec 113--123 dB ISO pure tone stimulus on ENG was studied. The material consisted of patients with operated and unoperated otosclerosis, normal ears, patients with sensorineural defects, and cases of chronic otitis media. ENG changes were found in 45% of patients with sensorineural hearing loss, in 35% of operated otosclerotics, in 15% of unoperated otosclerotics, in 15% of patients with chronic media, but in none of the normal-hearing patients. Most of the patients showing ENG changes felt dizzy. These results seem to imply a possible risk to patients with sensorineural hearing loss working in high noise levels.