Post-Traumatic Hearing Loss: An Evaluation of Auditory Function Following Head and Neck Injuries in Vehicular Accidents

Goshu BS

Published on: 2025-10-31

Abstract

Background: Vehicular accidents constitute a leading cause of head and neck trauma, often yielding auditory morbidity through temporal bone disruptions. This study elucidates the prevalence, typology, and risk factors of hearing loss in affected cohorts, informing otologic triage in resource-constrained settings.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 384 patients (mean age 34.7 ± 10.2 years; 68% male) with vehicular-induced head-neck injuries at three tertiary hospitals was conducted. Comprehensive audiometry, CT neuroimaging, and Injury Severity Score (ISS) assessments stratified hearing loss by type (conductive, sensorineural, mixed), severity (mild, moderate, severe), and fracture involvement. Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression quantified associations (α = 0.05), adjusting for demographics and comorbidities.

Results: Hearing loss afflicted 45% (n = 172), with conductive (20%, n = 76) and sensorineural (18%, n = 69) etiologies predominant, alongside mixed (7%, n = 26). Severity skewed mild (25%, n = 96), moderate (15%, n = 57), and severe (5%, n = 19). Temporal bone fractures drove 60% of cases (n = 103), versus basilar skull (20%, n = 34) and soft tissue (10%, n = 17). Severe injuries (AIS > 3) correlated with 65% prevalence (p < 0.001), while high ISS (>15) yielded 69% (OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2-3.7). Dizziness/vertigo synergized sensorineural risk (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.4-5.2, p = 0.002). Males evinced heightened burden (48% vs. 39%, OR = 1.4), particularly youth (51% in 18-30 years). Chi-square affirmed fracture-hearing nexus (χ² = 24.7, p < 0.001). Three-month follow-up revealed 55% partial resolution, favoring mild cases via steroids and tympanotomy.

Conclusions: Auditory sequelae burden nearly half of vehicular trauma survivors, fracture-centric and male-youth amplified. Routine otoaudiologic screening and multidisciplinary protocols could mitigate chronicity, curbing socioeconomic fallout. Prospective validation across diverse locales is warranted to refine preventive paradigms.