美國華盛頓市一位75歲的老人在兩個多月前因摔傷導致雙耳聽力喪失，而上周二（8月23日）發生在弗吉尼亞州5.8級的地震卻讓他的聽力奇跡般地恢復了。據老人介紹，地震發生時，他正在女兒和三個兒子的陪同下在美國退伍軍人管理署醫院看病。強烈的震感將老人從床上甩出，之后搖晃感停止，隨即老人驚訝地發現他竟然能夠清楚聽到兒子跟自己說話的聲音。
醫生表示，老人患的是傳導性聽力損失，主要是由中耳積液以及神經損傷引起的。聽力恢復可能是因為老人所服用的藥物和地震促進中耳積液的排除共同作用的結果。也有醫生指出，地震中的晃動并不能促進中耳積液的排出，不過如果地震過程中周圍有人尖叫的話，也有可能會震動耳鼓從而讓積液排出。
Valderzak was visiting with his daughter and three sons when the quake rattled D.C.'s Veterans Affairs Hospital, where he is battling cancer.
For Robert Valderzak of Washington, D.C., Tuesday's earthquake was a miracle.
Ever since he fell and fractured his skull on Father's Day, 75-year-old Valderzak had suffered severe hearing loss. But after the 5.8 quake, he could hear everything.
"It was God's blessing," Valderzak told ABCNews.com, his voice shaking with emotion. "It was a miracle for me."
Valderzak was visiting with his daughter and three sons when the quake rattled D.C.'s Veterans Affairs Hospital, where he is battling cancer.
"It shook me terrible -- right out of the bed," said Valderzak. "But after that it stopped. And my son talked to me, and I could hear his voice."
