7 replies to this topic

[A3]

Just a genuine question, any medical experts?

I know it can cause loss of hearing, ear infections and dizzyness. But when you're driving a Formula 1 car pulling several G's, would it affect anything?


I'm asking because Verstappen has had surgery to fix a perforated eardrum and now he claims to be half a second faster in his kart.

[bira]

More to the point, it can cause disorientation - which can go a long way to explaining why he wasn't on-track all the time ;)

[A3]

I've realised this is a shot for open goal, please be gentle.

[A3]

No-one with a medical background?

[Scudetto]

From emedicine.com:

Pain is the most common symptom.
You may notice only some general discomfort.

You might notice immediate intense pain.

You might feel as if something is just not right with your ear.

Other common symptoms:

Vertigo (spinning sensation)

Ringing

Buzzing

Roaring

Clicking

Hearing change or loss

Fluid or blood draining from your ear

So, vertigo is among the possible effects.

BTW: I always suspected Jos had a hole in his head.

[Fastcar]

Originally posted by A3
Just a genuine question, any medical experts?

I know it can cause loss of hearing, ear infections and dizzyness. But when you're driving a Formula 1 car pulling several G's, would it affect anything?


I'm asking because Verstappen has had surgery to fix a perforated eardrum and now he claims to be half a second faster in his kart.

Ear infections very often lead to disorders of the inner ear the balance controlling Vestibular canals and usually cause a feeling of swaying similar to being on a ship but it would not cause and problem to driving an F1 car it would go almost unoticed unless a particular chronic case. Judgement of speed braking sensitivity, feel for a car and energy levels are not effected by ear problems unless there's a massive infection.

[Will]

Can't see how it would effect it unless Verstappen's care took off and flew a few thousand feet into the air! People with perforated eardrums have to take care when exposed to pressure changes in surrounding atmospheric pressure (eg. flying & diving). I don't think the atmospheric pressure changes in relation to G-forces.

[masterhit]

I can discuss this because I suffer from poor inner ear balance. I had a head injury which fractured my skull and left me unconscious for three days, and also not just is my balance affected, the right ear now has hearing issues.

Your brain has to readjust. Suddenly vertical and horizontal, left and right are mixed up. The first day after I woke up and tried to go to the toilet, I realised something was wrong when I tried to walk as normal and found myself like a drunk, veering towrds the walls. I was told some months later by a specialist that I may never walk in a straight line again, that I should get a dog to help me relearn. Well I didn't need to in the end, but maybe that was more luck and stubborness than judgement. Nonetheless, 18 years later, if I have a drink, or I am tired, or it is dark, suddenly you realise how much extra work the brain has been doing recalculating with just the one balance organ's input. Hello Mr Wall, nice to see you again, it's been a while.

Hence it is not a good idea to drink late at night, when it is dark, and you cannot see as well, and when you are tired in this condition as all three combined are asking for serious trouble.

Sitting down is not so much of an issue as when standing up, but winds and G Force will sure disorientate. Vibration too, as that is very small, very fast changes in direction.

Now a perforated ear is more to do with fluids getting into the ear, as that can damage the eardrum, at least as far as I am aware, but maybe it can affect the balance organ too.

I remember hearing about an Italian Tour de France rider who suffered an inner ear balance condition, which is the worst thing you need when you are leaning into a corner at 40 miles per hour on the descent from a mountain, with a thousand feet drop if you go over the edge. A specialist supposedly had classical music played backwards to him. Apparently it worked.