Hearing impairment, Tinnitus

HEARING AND HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY

Sudden loss of hearing is a serious condition. The causes are varied, from unknown to postviral. It can be either one-sided, partial, or two-sided. The loss at different frequencies can be from 5% to 100%. It is often associated with tinnitus. Treatment is aimed at improving blood flow through the inner ear, is vasodilatory and rheological and can include corticosteroids. The sooner intensive treatment is started from the onset of the disease, the better its results.

WHY HYPERBARIC OXYGEN CHAMBER?

Oxygen dissolves in the blood plasma at the elevated pressure in the chamber. Oxygen is transported not only by haemoglobin, but also by blood plasma. Here its concentration, volume, is 20 times higher than at normal air pressure. This oxygen rush also penetrates into ischemic tissues or insufficiently oxygenated areas of the inner ear. There is a significant increase in the volume of oxygen in the perilymph and thereby a better supply of easily accessible oxygen to damaged cells. At the same time, hyperbaric oxygen stimulates microvessels to growth. This is the essence of the beneficial effect of HBO in the treatment of various ischemic syndromes. Of course, HBO treatment must be carried out in close cooperation with the otorhinolaryngologist.