LOS ANGELES (Dispatches) -- Exposure to common loud noises cause fluid buildup in the inner ear, according to a new research.
Loud sounds can cause a loss of auditory nerve cells in the inner ear, which are responsible for sending acoustic information to the brain, resulting in hearing difficulty.
The study from Keck Medicine of USC links this type of inner ear nerve damage to a condition known as endolymphatic hydrops, a buildup of fluid in the inner ear, showing that these both occur at noise exposure levels people might encounter in their daily life. They also found that treating the resulting fluid buildup with a readily available saline solution lessened nerve damage in the inner ear.
The author of the study Dr John Oghalai, an otolaryngologist with Keck Medicine said the research provided clues to better understand how and when noise-induced damage to the ears occured and suggested new ways to detect and prevent hearing loss.