If someone else’s negligent behavior results in you having hearing loss, then you may be entitled to compensation. Here, we take a look at acoustic trauma, also known as hearing loss: what it is, common signs and symptoms, and how a personal injury attorney can help you get compensation for your injury.
What Is Acoustic Trauma?
Hearing loss results from injury to the hearing mechanisms of the inner ear. Exposure to high-decibel noise is the most common cause of such trauma. In a personal injury accident, acoustic trauma may be caused by a head, neck, or traumatic brain injury, such as:
- Head Trauma/TBI: Fractured skull bones, damaged ossicles, inner ear/nerve damage, or brain processing issues from blunt force or impact
- Acoustic Trauma: Sudden, intense noise (explosion, gunshot) damaging inner ear hair cells, or long-term loud noise exposure
- Barotrauma: Pressure changes (diving, blast), rupturing the eardrum or damaging the inner ear
If you suffer and are treated for an ear injury, then your doctor may have mentioned the organ of Corti. The organ of Corti is a hearing mechanism in the inner ear, and when it comes to hearing loss, damage to this organ is the most common culprit.
Common Signs And Symptoms Of Acoustic Trauma
Common signs and symptoms of acoustic trauma include:
- Ringing in the ears, or tinnitus
- Sporadic, gradual, or complete hearing loss
- Hearing loss (partial or complete)
- Dizziness/Vertigo
- Ear pain, pressure, or bleeding
- Difficulty understanding speech (even with normal hearing)
If you suffer from acute acoustic trauma, then you will experience symptoms immediately following the inciting incident.
If you experience one or more of these symptoms, then contact an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist. An ENT doctor will be able to assess your condition and tell you how best to treat your symptoms.
When Your Acoustic Injury Results In Permanent Trauma
Acoustic trauma is a common type of traumatic injury. If the acoustic trauma results in permanent damage, then it is categorized as a catastrophic injury. Catastrophic injuries require lifelong medical care. And, they affect not only a person’s physicality but also their psyche and other areas of their lives.
If you are suffering from a catastrophic injury, then you deserve to focus on your health and not be overwhelmed with mounting bills. By hiring a personal injury attorney, you can let them worry about any bills so that you can take care of yourself. You focus on getting better, and we’ll take care of everything else.
In the case that the trauma to your inner ear is permanent, you may benefit from wearing ear protection around loud sounds to keep any hearing loss from progressing. If you have trouble paying for medical care or medical equipment, then a personal injury attorney may be able to help you.
Call Hancock Injury Attorneys at 813-915-1110 About your Hearing Loss Case Today
If an accident has left you with hearing loss or another acoustic injury, it is critical to speak with an experienced Tampa hearing loss attorney as soon as possible. At Hancock Injury Attorneys, our Tampa personal injury lawyers represent individuals who have suffered hearing damage due to another party’s negligence, and we are prepared to fight for the full compensation you deserve.
Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no upfront fees and no legal costs unless we successfully recover compensation for you.
Our phones are answered 24/7, so you can speak with a Tampa hearing loss injury lawyer anytime, day or night, to discuss your case and learn about your legal options.