Divers join research
Scientists explore links to deafness
WATERLOGGED ears may not be the worst thing to happen to your hearing if you go scuba diving.
Cairns scientists are trying to determine whether there is a link between hearing loss and diving, in order to make the aquatic activity safer.
CQUniversity researcher Dave Moss, who has worked as a dive instructor for almost two decades, says there is minimal information about whether diving caused damage to a person’s auditory sense.
“Hearing loss was chosen (as a subject) as it is a little more difficult to pinpoint in an individual,” he said.
“It’s not as obvious as a physical injury, and it can occur without a person even being aware of it.”
The study will involve recreational divers and diving instructors completing a survey, and providing copies of hearing tests.
“We hope to add some valuable data to the field of diving physiology, and identify any trends in all levels and types of divers and their hearing health based on the information they provide,” Mr Moss said.
“We hope our study will continue to keep the sport’s record of safety for all, and lead to innovations in training and education for divers and instructors.
“We aim to continue research into healthy diving habits so as to maintain scuba diving’s reputation with its high standard of safety.”
Dive Queensland president Terry Cummins wears a hearing aid.
But he was not sure whether a diving career extending more than 50 years had contributed to his hearing loss.
“One of the questions in our survey is ‘what other things could actually account for problems with your hearing?’” he said.
“Of course, it could be age, generally, for myself. But I’ve also been a drummer and a competitive pistol shooter.
“They may be the reasons that I might need a hearing aid at 69, or is it diving?”
He said ultimately the study would help make the diving industry safer.