The effect of middle ear disorders on noise-induced hearing loss.

Two groups of subjects, 50 noise-exposed and 50 non-noise-exposed, both with unilateral conductive hearing loss, were studied in terms of the amount of conductive hearing loss and difference in the bone conduction thresholds at 4 kHz between the two ears. The results support the hypothesis that middle ear disorders provide the ear some protection from noise-induced hearing loss.