Few people would contest air bags' benefit in the event of a head-on car crash, although there is some concern being raised over their potential to adversely affect hearing. The Michigan Ear Institute was the first to document a variety of of air bag-induced injuries, ranging from temporary to permanent hearing loss. More recently, a British study conducted by researchers at the Vehicle Safety Research Center at Loughborough concludes that air bags inflate with sufficient noise to damage hearing. The report indicates that air bags' noise level is louder than a jet engine - 150 to 170 decibels. No one is suggesting that drivers disconnect their air bags; however, the studies may give us all one more reason to drive more carefully.

P.S. Researchers fear that the increasingly widespread introduction of side air bags may increase the chances of hearing loss injuries.