Your brain isn’t the only thing affected by a head injury. Your hearing is too.
The term “concussion” is one that most people are quite familiar with as it relates to the brain and head injuries. However, many people may not realize that a concussion can actually occur in your hearing organ as well. This type of concussion is called a “labyrinthine concussion”, while a concussion affecting the brain is called a “cortical concussion.” Labyrinthine concussion occurs when there is damage to the part of the inner ear that is responsible for balance. Similar to cortical concussions, labyrinthine concussions can be a result of sport-related head trauma, motor vehicle accidents, falls or other causes.
Labyrinthine concussions may cause hearing loss, dizziness or vertigo, tinnitus and nausea/vomiting. If you have suffered a head injury and are experiencing any of the above symptoms, a comprehensive audiological evaluation is recommended. Similarly, if you have been diagnosed with a cortical concussion (or suspect a cortical concussion) and your symptoms have persisted beyond 7-10 days, a comprehensive audiological evaluation is recommended. Physician referral is not necessary for the assessment.
At The Hearing Loss Clinic, we utilize a specialized concussion protocol to assess various parts of the hearing and balance systems for individuals who are suspected to have sustained a labyrinthine concussion. Our protocol is sensitive to many auditory (hearing) and vestibular (balance) disorders, and includes tests of middle and inner ear function, extended high frequency audiometry to test a highly sensitive part of the hearing organ, word and sentence discrimination testing, screening for central auditory processing difficulties, and other tests. The results of our assessment, including any diagnoses made and treatment or referral recommendations, can be shared with your physician, physiotherapist, or other healthcare provider in order to ensure optimal rehabilitative outcomes following injury.
If you’re suffering from a concussion or concussion-like symptoms, book an appointment or talk to one of our hearing professionals to learn how we can help support your recovery.