Hearing loss after Diwali firecrackers: first 72 hours critical, says AIIMS Bhopal advisory

The loud noise of Diwali firecrackers does not end with a few seconds of sound. According to an AIIMS advisory, it can also damage the ability to hear. The advisory has been issued on the damage firecrackers can do to the ears during Diwali.

The advisory says that if hearing suddenly drops after firecrackers go off, if there is ringing or whistling in the ear, or if the ear feels blocked, it should not be dismissed as an ordinary problem. These can be signs of an injury to the inner ear or a sudden loss of hearing.

According to the advisory, the first 72 hours are extremely important for treatment in such cases and are regarded as the golden period. If tests and proper treatment are received during this time, hearing can be saved.

Pranjal Jain, speech and language therapist in the ENT department of AIIMS Bhopal, said the loud sound of a firecracker bursting close to the ear can damage the delicate structures of the inner ear, that is, the hair cells. This can reduce hearing for some time. In severe cases the damage can be permanent. Symptoms often seen right after a blast include whistling in the ear, muffled hearing and dizziness.

The advisory also mentions a serious condition called sudden sensorineural hearing loss. In it, hearing usually drops within 72 hours in one ear, and sometimes in both ears. Acoustic trauma, that is, injury from a loud blast, can also cause it. A perforated eardrum, pain and persistent whistling in the ear can occur as well.

According to the advisory, anyone with reduced hearing after firecrackers should immediately have a hearing test with an audiologist and consult an ENT specialist. Audiologists carry out pure tone audiometry (PTA), speech audiometry and, as needed, other tests. These show how much hearing has been lost and of what kind. On that basis, the ENT specialist decides further treatment.