Man on flight that lost cabin pressure suffers hearing loss

MUMBAI: Two months after a sudden drop in cabin air pressure in a Jet Airways Mumbai-jaipur flight caused injuries in some passengers, one of them, Mukesh Sharma, has been diagnosed with permanent hearing loss. Sharma, a PHD researcher from University of Aveiro, Portugal, who suffered bleeding in his ears in the incident on September 20, said he underwent an audiometry test on November 12 at a Jaipur hospital to diagnose the extent of his hearing loss.

“The reports revealed that I have suffered a permanent hearing loss. There were a number of soft sounds I wasn’t able to detect and unless a person is standing face-to-face with me and speaking, I am not able to listen to the words. While speaking on phone, I use my left ear as the right one is most affected,” said Sharma.

Jet Airways did not respond to HT’S requests for a comment.

Dr Pawan Singhal, assistant professor, ENT, Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur, who has been treating Sharma, and Ankur Kala, another passenger who had similar injuries, said that they had barotrauma—a blockage of Eustachian tube,which connects ear and mouth, caused due to air pressure difference in the inside

and outside ear.

“There was also internal bleeding and swelling in all the patients along with tinnitus—a constant ringing sensation. (Sharma) has suffered a sensorineural hearing loss (caused due to damage to the inner ear or to the nerve from ear to brain) and I suggested a cochlear implant as the permanent solution to the damage,” said Dr Singhal.