Barotrauma of inner ear - anyone else had this problem?

[Gail J]

Hi, I dived my normal Wed Evening dive at St Abbs, 25 m for 37 min - well within computer saftey plus safety stop at 6m. No cold/sinus problem before dive at all, no pain at all diving, although ears just felt a bit strange at one point during dive.
On surfacing - completly deaf in left ear and tinnitus.
No dizziness or nauseau - but in hindsight I also had a visual disturbance that evening driving back - as i thought to myself oh I must get my eyes checked out, as I was not fully happy with the vision.
Saw doc and and spoke to diving spec medical via British Hyperbaric Association (BHA)following morning - ear looked normal - back in 5 days if no change.
By chance spoke to contact in ENT dept that night and was seen by ENT dept next day.
I have suffered a barotrauma to the inner ear. There is no connection between ear and brain - therefore no hearing in left ear, no real chance of recovery except I was put on steroids for 7 days to reduce inflammation and hopefully reduce tinnitus.

My query is, has anyone heard of anyone else who has suffered this, as i would like to know if anything has helped them.
I realise whatever happens my 14 year love of diving is now at an end, but it does highlight the need to contact the BHA diver helpline with any query however minor it may be as soon as possible, and finally don't put your head in the sand over injuires.

[Lindsey Doyle]

You poor thing, Gail, sorry to hear your problems (deaf and having to give up diving..)I hope someone can give you the advice you asked for.
Best wishes, Lindsey

[Chris Edge]

With respect, I believe that you may have been given poor advice. It sounds very much to me as though you have suffered from a perforation of either the oval or round windows. You have profound hearing loss and, if this is not corrected very quickly, you may be permanently deaf. I think that you should contact me and I need to take a better history from you. I can then refer you to a specialist, should one be required. My number is on the medical form or at www.uksdmc.co.uk and look under referees in Oxfordshire.
Hi, I dived my normal Wed Evening dive at St Abbs, 25 m for 37 min - well within computer saftey plus safety stop at 6m. No cold/sinus problem before dive at all, no pain at all diving, although ears just felt a bit strange at one point during dive.
On surfacing - completly deaf in left ear and tinnitus.
No dizziness or nauseau - but in hindsight I also had a visual disturbance that evening driving back - as i thought to myself oh I must get my eyes checked out, as I was not fully happy with the vision.
Saw doc and and spoke to diving spec medical via British Hyperbaric Association (BHA)following morning - ear looked normal - back in 5 days if no change.
By chance spoke to contact in ENT dept that night and was seen by ENT dept next day.
I have suffered a barotrauma to the inner ear. There is no connection between ear and brain - therefore no hearing in left ear, no real chance of recovery except I was put on steroids for 7 days to reduce inflammation and hopefully reduce tinnitus.

My query is, has anyone heard of anyone else who has suffered this, as i would like to know if anything has helped them.
I realise whatever happens my 14 year love of diving is now at an end, but it does highlight the need to contact the BHA diver helpline with any query however minor it may be as soon as possible, and finally don't put your head in the sand over injuires.