Objective: To investigate the effect of alcohol consumption on acoustic reflex, to emphasize that alcohol is a factor which increases acous-tic trauma and to offer new suggestions on the precautions necessary to take in terms of ear health.

Materials and Methods: In 30 healthy male adults, values of acoustic reflex threshold at 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz before and 30 and 60 minutes after ethyl alcohol consumption were compared. Then the relationship between the amount of alcohol in the air exhaled at 30 and 60 minutes and the values of acoustic reflex threshold before and after alcohol consumption were statistically evaluated.

Results: There was an increase in all the values of acoustic reflex threshold measured at 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz after ethyl alcohol consump-tion compared to those before ethyl alcohol consumption. The increase in the values of acoustic reflex threshold measured at 1000 Hz was statistically not significant. However, the increases in the values of acoustic reflex threshold measured at 2000 Hz were 4.2 dB at 30 minutes and 5.1 dB at 60 minutes and were considered statistically significant.

Conclusion: Ethyl alcohol consumption in noisy environment is a factor which potentializes the effect of noise causing acoustic trauma. Therefore, otolaryngologist should question whether the patients consume alcohol in noisy environment and warn them that alcohol consumption in noisy environment is more harmful to ear health.