Can a motor vehicle accident cause hearing loss?

Your ability to hear sounds clearly may be something you take for granted. Still, from your job to your hobbies, you use your ears for virtually everything you do. If you suddenly cannot hear well, your quality of life is likely to suffer immeasurably.

Car accidents often leave Lousiana drivers and passengers with catastrophic and life-changing injuries. While you may expect to suffer cuts, bruises and broken bones in a crash, you may also be vulnerable to a variety of hearing-associated impairments.

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is the medical term for ringing in the ears. If you have tinnitus, you also may hear near-constant and irritating buzzing sounds. According to a recent medical study, crash-associated whiplash may be the cause of accident-related tinnitus. Therefore, if your neck jerks violently in an accident, it may be worthwhile to have a doctor check your hearing.

Brain injuries

If you hit your head during a car accident, you may damage the part of your brain that controls your hearing. A traumatic brain injury interferes with the way the brain functions, possibly even causing you to experience partial or total hearing loss. Regrettably, this type of hearing loss may be permanent.

Ear damage

In any serious car accident, your ears are vulnerable to injury. If you damage the outer parts of your ear, your ear may not capture sound waves effectively. Similarly, damage to the tiny hairs and bones inside your ear may make it difficult to hear clearly. The same is true if you suffer an injury to your eardrum.

Ultimately, because receiving proper treatment for a hearing-related injury can be expensive, it may be necessary to hold the other driver financially responsible.