Volume 1,Issue 4
Effects of drill noise on the Auditory Threshold of the guinea pigs under occluding the round window and Its Correlation with the Pathological Mechanisms of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Objective: To investigate the synergistic damaging effects of electric drill noise on auditory thresholds under round window occlusion conditions, and to systematically analyze the pathological mechanisms of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) with advances in integrated Traditional Chinese and Western medicine prevention and treatment strategies. Methods: Thirty-six healthy male guinea pigs were randomly divided into control, round window occlusion-only, noise exposure-only, and occlusion + noise combined groups. A round window occlusion model was established, and animals were exposed to 92.5 dB SPL electric drill noise with a dominant frequency of 10 kHz for 30 minutes. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing was used to evaluate changes in auditory thresholds. Results: The occlusion + noise combined group exhibited a significant and persistent increase in ABR thresholds at 16 kHz. Conclusion: Round window occlusion enhances inner ear susceptibility to electric drill noise, leading to frequency-specific auditory threshold elevation. Combined with NIHL mechanisms such as oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, integrated Traditional Chinese and Western medicine interventions may offer novel clinical strategies for prevention and treatment.
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