First: The Laryngoscope
Abstract:
We present the case of a 24-year-old male who presented to the otolaryngology clinic for otalgia and aural fullness after riding a roller coaster. We present his clinical course and outcome and briefly discuss the mechanism of injury and otologic barotrauma. Roller coasters have been reported as the cause of many different types of injuries, but this is the first reported case of otologic barotrauma. As the engineering for roller coasters continues to advance in terms of increasing speed, otolaryngologists need to be aware of a new etiology of otologic barotrauma. Laryngoscope, 2011
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Barotrauma, or so says google is Damage to body tissue caused by rapid changes in air pressure, so yes it does look like it is possible. However given that we're looking at a single case in this paper, it seems to be quite rare.
The issue seems to not so much be height, but steepness of slope/Speed of Decent. Basically we're looking at the audio-equivalent of divers getting "the bends".
However, I also found this:
Indian Journal of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery
From the Abstract:
We report a case of sudden unilateral sensorineural hearing loss of sudden onset during an aeroplane flight, which completely resolved during a roller coaster ride at Alton Towers theme park. A review of the literature concerning sudden idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss and spontaneous resolution are discussed. Initially, pure-tone audiometry showed a profound sensorineural hearing loss in the right ear and mild sensorineural hearing loss in the left ear (of note, the hearing was normal prior to the episode). Following resolution of the patient’s symptoms during a roller coaster ride, pure-tone audiometry showed normal hearing thresholds in both ears. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a symptom of cochlear injury and the mechanism of the patient’s symptoms was attributed to a patent cochlear aqueduct.
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So, not can they only potentially cause hearing loss, Roller Coasters can be the cure?
I have read that riding coasters can be beneficial to people with asthma, emphysema, COPD, and other breathing disorders. There maybe something to that, as I have some issues with coughing and breathing, and they aren't very noticable or prevalent when I'm at a park riding.
Right now though the only damage that ears are really taking on coasters are the blood curdling screams from some people, and the loud high frequency pounding from the wind. It's like riding on the highway with the windows down. A lot of people don't realize what kind of long term hearing damage this does if done for a prolonged amount of time. On a coaster though that barrage is only about a minute or two, so unless you're on a riding marathon, there really isn't much cause for concern.
..Naturally, this study comes out the day after I went to the employee preview of Island of Adventure and rode Dueling Dragons 50 times back to back (25 on each side)!
