| Auditory symptoms in whiplash patients - could earwax occlusion be a benign cause? | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 16680223 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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BACKGROUND: Excess cerumen (earwax) in the external auditory canal is associated with symptoms of earache, fullness in the ears, and diminished hearing. These symptoms, and tinnitus, are commonly associated with whiplash injury. METHODS: Eighty-six whiplash patients were examined to determine if there was a correlation between symptoms of earache, fullness in the ear, diminished hearing, and tinnitus, and the degree of cerumen occlusion. Cerumen occlusion was measured by visualisation of the tympanic membrane and graded according to a 4 point scale. RESULTS: Of 71 subjects reporting no acute onset (within 7 days of the collision that caused their whiplash) earache, fullness in the ears, hearing loss, or tinnitus, 62 had little or no cerenum occlusion. Of seven subjects reporting tinnitus but no other auditory symptoms, none had greater than moderate cerenum occlusion. Of eight subjects reporting one or more of acute onset earache, fullness in the ears, diminished hearing, and tinnitus, seven had complete cerenum occlusion in the affected ear. DISCUSSION: The findings suggest high grade cerumen occlusion frequently occurs in the ear affected by acute auditory symptoms. However, tinnitus alone has no apparent association with cerumen occlusion. It is possible that a significant number of acute onset auditory symptoms reported in whiplash patients have a benign cause. |
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Authors:
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Robert Ferrari |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Australian family physician Volume: 35 ISSN: 0300-8495 ISO Abbreviation: Aust Fam Physician Publication Date: 2006 May |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2006-05-08 Completed Date: 2006-08-21 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0326701 Medline TA: Aust Fam Physician Country: Australia |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 367-8 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. rferrari@shaw.ca |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adolescent Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Alberta / epidemiology Causality Cerumen* Comorbidity Ear Canal Ear Diseases / classification, epidemiology* Female Humans Incidence Male Middle Aged Whiplash Injuries / epidemiology* |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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