If your roll coaster-riding days aren't quite over, you may want to think twice before you climb aboard. A recent case study shows that the popular amusement park rides may cause ear damage.
Nearly everyone has experienced the feeling of ear barotrauma before. It's that discomfort in your ear that comes from a rapid change in pressure brought on by acceleration or altitude. It can also be accompanied by a popping sound, dizziness, and even temporary hearing loss.
Recently, the experience of a twenty-four-year-old man who rode a roller coaster that accelerated to 120 mph in just four seconds is shedding light on the potential for ear barotrauma caused by the thrill rides. The man, who turned to the left to speak to a fellow passenger while the coaster was speeding up, exposed his ear to the full force of the acceleration. An exam of the patient showed eardrum inflammation and swelling inside the ear canal. While the ear damage sustained during exposure to such rapid acceleration produced painful symptoms, they cleared up within 72 hours.
"As roller coasters continue to push the envelope of speed, otolaryngologists need to be aware of this new cause of barotrauma to the ear. Based on our research, we recommend that passengers remain facing forward for the duration of the ride to not let the full impact of acceleration hit the ear," Dr. Kathleen Yaremchuk, chair of the department of otolaryngology at Henry Ford Hospital, said in a news release.
