[The difference between the noise deafness of the pitmans and the typical noise-induced hearing loss of the worker in metals (author's transl)].

Reffering to 92 expert evidences on the noise-deafness the signs are shown, in which the mining noise-deafness differs from the typical noise deafness in the metallurgical industry. In more than 80% of the cases a slope of the curve could be observed in the audiogram beginning at 125 cps. Therefore the hearing loss early impairs the ability to understand conversational speech. Only every second patient shows a positive result at the SISI-test; this is the reason, that the mining noise deafness frequently is misinterpreted. In these cases the cochlear hearing loss will be surely proved by the Langenbeck-audiogram and Békésy-audiogram. A secondary finding was the typical "mining ear-drum". These ear drums are bilaterally whitish, without reflex and thickened; they don't show any air-bone gap in the audiogram. The differences between the mining noise-deafness and the typical noise-induced hearing loss are explained by an additional baro-trauma which occurs, when the pitmans work at a depth of about 2000 feet.