Ear Trauma Due to Thunder

-A Report of Three Cases-

Abstract

A clap of thunder caused ear trauma in three construction workers. All three had eardrum perforations and a temporary threshold shift of hearing, one had a permanent threshold shift at higher frequencies. Individual differences were observed in severity of the injury. The eardrum perforations healed almost completely within one month. During the course of healing, temporary thickening of the edge of the perforation and its migration outwards to the margin of the eardrum were observed. The course of recovery of the temporary threshold shift showed an exponential curve. Permanent threshold shift were observed only in the left ear of one patient.