Kumar Prawin, Siddique Aneena K, Raveendran Rajesh Kumar
J Am Acad Audiol. 2025 Jun 19. doi: 10.3766/jaaa.240114.
Exposure to noise or loud sound damages the cochlea and can result in hearing loss, which has been well-documented. Research over the years has shown that individuals exposed to noise for a short or extended period may develop vestibular problems. The otolith organs are found to be more susceptible to noise exposure or acoustic trauma than the semicircular canals (SCC). Nonetheless, little is known about the functioning of all three SCC in individuals exposed to noise. A technologically advanced, noninvasive, simple, and fast tool, the video head impulse test (vHIT) helps in evaluating the functioning of all six SCC in three planes. We assessed the functioning of SCC using the vHIT paradigm in individuals with and without noise exposure. The study used a quasi-experimental, between-groups design. The study included15 individuals with occupational noise exposure for at least 5 years (clinical group) and 15 individuals without noise exposure (control group) aged 30 to 55 years. The vHIT was administered using the head impulse paradigm to assess the vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR) gain of the six SCC in all three planes. The study showed a significantly reduced VOR gain in lateral SCC among individuals with noise exposure in comparison to their healthy counterparts. In addition, refixation saccades (overt and covert) were noticed in 46 percent of individuals with noise exposure, whereas none of the participants exhibited refixation saccades in the control group. Although the semicircular canal is reported to be less susceptible to the effects of noise, the findings of reduced VOR gain and the presence of refixation saccades in the clinical group reveal that the semicircular functioning could be altered in individuals exposed to noise. Therefore, individuals with noise-induced hearing loss should undergo peripheral vestibular assessment, including semicircular canal functioning, for better rehabilitation. vHIT showed promising findings in assessing SCC functioning among individuals with noise exposure.
接触噪音或巨响会损害耳蜗并可能导致听力损失，这一点已有充分记录。多年来的研究表明，短期或长期接触噪音的个体可能会出现前庭问题。人们发现，耳石器官比半规管更容易受到噪音暴露或声学创伤的影响。然而，对于接触噪音的个体中所有三个半规管的功能了解甚少。视频头脉冲测试（vHIT）是一种技术先进、非侵入性、简单且快速的工具，有助于评估三个平面上所有六个半规管的功能。我们使用vHIT范式评估了有噪音暴露和无噪音暴露个体的半规管功能。该研究采用了准实验性组间设计。研究纳入了15名职业性噪音暴露至少5年的个体（临床组）和15名年龄在30至55岁之间无噪音暴露的个体（对照组）。使用头脉冲范式进行vHIT测试，以评估所有三个平面上六个半规管的前庭眼反射（VOR）增益。研究表明，与健康对照者相比，有噪音暴露的个体外侧半规管的VOR增益显著降低。此外，46%有噪音暴露的个体出现了重新注视扫视（显性和隐性），而对照组中没有参与者出现重新注视扫视。尽管据报道半规管对噪音影响的敏感性较低，但临床组中VOR增益降低和重新注视扫视的存在表明，接触噪音的个体半规管功能可能会发生改变。因此，患有噪音性听力损失的个体应接受包括半规管功能在内的外周前庭评估，以实现更好的康复。vHIT在评估有噪音暴露个体的半规管功能方面显示出有前景的结果。
