Tinnitus and diving

[taz.ufos]

Hello, I have introduced myself in the introductions section, and now have a few questions to ask, the first being about Tinnitus whilst diving, I am hoping to take up diving but suffer with slight high frequency hearing loss and Tinnitus ( which has been caused by working in a noisy environment and no doubt years of riding noisy motorcycles ) so I guess that I will have to get a doctor to sign my medical questionnaire prior to taking my tryout dive. ( I cant see the doctor having a problem as my hearing loss is so slight, infact I only found out about it after seeing him about the ringing in my ears ) But I have been told by others that diving itself can cause Tinnitus, so I just wondered will diving make mine worse, and how do others get on with the same problem, I still ride motorcycle etc and it has not made it any worse, or I have just got used to the ringing now.
I would be greatfull for any advice / information . thanks Taz

[ChristianG]

Hello, I have introduced myself in the introductions section, and now have a few questions to ask, the first being about Tinnitus whilst diving
Taz,

I've been diving for a goodly few years now, quite possibly longer than you've been on this world. When I first started I had perfect health (you didn't need a Dr to go diving in those days, nor a training agency for that matter). I first started getting Tinnitus when I was about 50, probably also noise related, in my case printing presses, and it has gradually deteriorated since then. No-one has ever even remotely suggested to me that I reconsider diving because of that ailment, nor that I should seek medical advice where the ailment and diving are concerned. As for diving causing Tinnitus, well, this is the first time that I've heard that one.

Note please, I am talking of my own experience. I am no hyperbaric medicine expert.

Now, if someone were to tell me that the medical chappies have come up with a cure for Tinnitus I would be forever grateful but I much doubt that it'll happen in my lifetime.

As for hearing loss, you actually hear better underwater than in the air, to the extent that the direction of a sound underwater can't be discerned because our ears are incapable of differentiating where that sound is coming from, it's travelling too fast.

[Maria CM]

I have tinnitus (and severe hearing loss) and it has never been suggested to me that there were any adverse effects on tinnitus from diving - don't know of course, may well be wrong, not so much is known about tinnitus...

As I understand it, it depends on where in your ear hearing loss occurs as to whether it is potentially made worse by diving. Mine is a degenerative hereditary nerve condition and is completely unaffected by diving.

I hear some things underwater better than people with good hearing rather strangely, but equally, some outboard engines are outside my hearing range which means I nearly came up under one once!!!!!!!! Only stopped because the shadow moved over me

best wishes,

Maria

[Tony Dwyer]

I have severely impaired hearing in my right ear. This has nothing to do with diving, having been caused by injury before I became a diver. I have tinnitus in that ear but not in my left, which is not impaired at all.

Many, many years of diving, falling off various boats and other reasons for neing immersed in water, have had no affect on my left ear function.

My ears have been checked over many times during diving medicals and I've never been told that I have a problem to worry about.

I know of one person who gave up diving, having blamed it for causing his severe tinnitus. i'm not aware that the case was ever proven.

[taz.ufos]

Thanks for the above replies, I am now going through the process of filling in the medical statement, and of course the only bit that catches me out is the ...have you got any problems with your hearing bit...so I have spoken to the hospital audiology dept and they are not interested in signing the form, so I have spoken to the doctors and they told me to drop the form in and someone would have to have a look at it, but they would not say how much they will charge me for this privilege until they have done it,..and now I have been told by someone that before I can train I will have to have a medical by a specialist diving doctor..,the road seems to be getting longer and longer before I can get in the water for a try out see if I like diving or not. :(

thanks taz

[Ed Howarth]

Taz.

Unless the doctor is on the UK Sports Diving Medical Committee list, you may be wasting your time and your money.

Look at the top of this page and follow the link to UKSDMC, find a doctor local to you and give them a ring. They may need to see you, or get your medical notes, or just say you can proceed and fill in your form without further reference to a doctor.

Ed

[taz.ufos]

I have since spoken to the very helpfull people at Mulberry divers in selsey, who have cleared up a few points for me, so I will hopefully get started in the new year...

taz

[BogSnorkeller]

I've just spotted this thread, and I've got a bit of info about tinnitus and diving, which I've already posted on the Yorkshire Divers forum >here (http://www.yorkshire-divers.com/forums/dive-medicine-fitness/101048-tinnitus-valsalva.html)<.

In addition to what I've written there, I have also heard from a member of my club, who works in DDRC, that tinnitus is believed to be a possible outcome of DCI and the risk is believed to be elevated for divers with PFO. Given what I have written on the Yorkshire Divers post, I now seriously doubt this - I think there may have been lots of cases where tinnitus was wrongly attributed to DCI, when in fact it was simple barotrauma. I've no medical qualifications - my opinion is based on my own experience of presenting my case of tinnitus to a hyperbaric specialist and what I've read on the freediving forums.

Hope this helps.

[Vic]

I think there may have been lots of cases where tinnitus was wrongly attributed to DCI, when in fact it was simple barotrauma.

IIRC, When the term "DCI" took over from "DCS", it was because DCI was intended to encompass both DCS and barotrauma.

Is this no longer the case?

Vic.

[BogSnorkeller]

IIRC, When the term "DCI" took over from "DCS", it was because DCI was intended to encompass both DCS and barotrauma.

Is this no longer the case?

Vic.

I'm sure you're right Vic - as I say, I have no medical qualifications, and I was always one of the naughty ones at the back during all my dive classroom lessons.

[Ron Evans]

IIRC, When the term "DCI" took over from "DCS", it was because DCI was intended to encompass both DCS and barotrauma.

Is this no longer the case?

Vic.
I think you are wrong: barotrauma is caused, typically by not equalising on the way down, or by reverse not equalising on the way up. This is not the result of decompression (except the reverse??).

Never found you wrong before Vic, so quite worried now!! Happy Christmas!

[Tony Dwyer]

I think you are wrong: barotrauma is caused, typically by not equalising on the way down, or by reverse not equalising on the way up. This is not the result of decompression (except the reverse??).

Never found you wrong before Vic, so quite worried now!! Happy Christmas!

I've always thought that barotrauma would relate to any pressure (baro) related injury (trauma). :)

[PeteM]

I've always thought that barotrauma would relate to any pressure (baro) related injury (trauma). :)


Barotrauma is the general name for an injury caused by pressure change

Edmonds etc. also later break down dysbaric* diseases into three sub sections, Barotrauma, DCS and Dysbaric Osteonecoris.

*Dysbaric refers to medical conditions resulting from changes in ambient pressure

[Tony Dwyer]

Edmonds etc. also later break down dysbaric* diseases into three sub sections, Barotrauma, DCS and Dysbaric Osteonecoris.

*Dysbaric refers to medical conditions resulting from changes in ambient pressure

Good reference, thanks for that. :)

[Vic]

I think you are wrong: barotrauma is caused, typically by not equalising on the way down, or by reverse not equalising on the way up. This is not the result of decompression (except the reverse??).

I didn't say this was a description of which I approved :-) There seems to be some support (http://www.scubamed.com/fordocs.htm#anchor588558) for the concept, though.

Never found you wrong before Vic, so quite worried now!! Happy Christmas!

Why thank you, kind sir. It was rather good hactually. I think.

Vic.